Duquesne MBB Falls To 0-3 In A-10 Play Following Nationally Televised Setback

Despite its first sellout since 2012, the Duquesne Men’s Basketball Team fell to 0-3 in Atlantic 10 play with a nationally televised 72-62 setback to Dayton Friday night at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.

Duquesne (9-6/0-3 Atlantic 10) was led by Dae Dae Grant’s 14 points, all of which came in the second half. Freshman guard Jake DiMichele recorded a career-high 12 points. It was his second consecutive game achieving a personal best. Both Jimmy Clark III added 12 points in the loss, while the bench outscored Dayton 26-12.

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Dayton (13-2/3-0 A-10) saw DaRon Holmes II go off for 33 points on 12-of-18 shooting, while also grabbing 12 rebounds, good for his third double-double of the season.

The Flyers enjoyed a 38-25 rebounding advantage, 36-26 paint edge and 16-7 second-chance point margin.

Early on, Duquesne’s inability to find offensive consistency allowed for Dayton to go on an 11-2 run. During this time, Chabi Barre was assessed a technical foul for hanging on the rim and attempting to score, as officials deemed he used the rim as an advantage.

Duquesne’s early struggles led to a 1-for-8 start from the field, while Holmes was able to establish a post dominance early on.

The Dukes started Tre Williams for the first time this season, but he was subbed out four minutes into the first half.

Duquesne attempted to sub both David Dixon and Andrei Savrasov in during the early run but were stunted by an inability to find a dead ball, which only came when Dukes coach Keith Dambrot was forced to spend an early timeout.

Coming out of the stoppage, Dayton’s defense wreaked havoc creating a turnover as Duquesne was unable to achieve the proper separation.

Duquesne’s first-half post rotation consistently involved subbing in either Dixon or Dusan Mahorcic in an effort to curb Holmes’s tendencies.

Mahorcic did provide a life with four points in the opening half, though Dixon was held off the scoresheet.

DiMichele provided a boost for Duquesne with an ability to score, hunt offensive rebounds, and jump in front of a pass.

Despite an inability to convert from deep, as the Dukes were 2-for-15 on three-point shots in the first half, the team stayed in by not allowing Dayton to get too far out in front.

Duquesne got to within five, after which a media stoppage, saw the Dukes again turn the ball over, this time on an inbounds pass.

Dayton would stretch the advantage to 31-21 at halftime, enjoying an 11-rebound advantage, 22 paint points and a decisive 12-0 second-chance points mark.

Duquesne found some early success as Duquesne went to its posts and found three early scores. That was undone by three consecutive misses, before Mahorcic’s hook found the bottom of the net.

As the Dukes made miscues the body language betrayed how they were feeling. Players on the court dropped shoulders with hands on hips, and players on the bench looked up to the heavens. When a Duquesne player was subbed out, he hit his hand hard off a bench chair in frustration.

Duquesne found some energy in DiMichele as his three-point basket and a defensive stop saw the Dukes back down by single digits heading into a media stoppage.

DiMichele’s triple began a 7-0 run which saw the arena’s noise reach its apex. Through the run, Duquesne had multiple opportunities to further reduce what was a four-point deficit but were unable to do so.

That was when Holmes took back over, placing the Flyers up by nine points and activated a Dukes timeout.

Holmes would continue asserting his will, twice connecting from deep, the second of which put the game well in hand for Dayton.

Duquesne will remain home for its Tuesday contest against Richmond, a contest which will tip off at 7 p.m.