Duquesne MBB Locks Down UC Irvine

The Duquesne Men’s Basketball led wire to wire and came away with a 70-54 victory over UC Irvine Saturday afternoon at the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.

Duquesne (4-8) was paced by Jahsean Corbett’s 15 points and eight rebounds. Both Cam Crawford and Tre Dinkins III both scored 13 points.

Duquesne men's and women's basketball on PSN is sponsored by Moon Golf Club.

UC Irvine (10-2) did not have anyone achieve double figures but had all 12 of its players scored paced by Myles Che’s nine points.

It was an ideal start for Duquesne which opened on a 10-0 run. The Dukes drew from an energy which became contagious across the floor. By the time a Dinkins three-pointer fell through the net, UC Irvine coach Russell Turner had his hands at the ready to signal a timeout.

The Anteaters began to generate some offense, getting back into the contest, as it trailed by three points.

Duquesne spent a timeout early in the run to get back to form and that came to fruition when Jakub Necas sank a three, which was followed by Crawford’s matching effort.

With the Dukes up by seven, UC Irvine’s team dared David Dixon to shoot from beyond the arc and he obliged, nailed a corner three-point shot.

Crawford’s tenacity was rewarded by a momentum-boosting sequence. Crawford crashed for the rebound and played aggressively, going for a steal, he then used his length the grab a steal to set up the offense, then Kareem Rozier saw him trailing and he buried a three-point shot.

Corbett provided the half’s exclamation point, drilling a three-point shot with five seconds remaining, to take a 43-24 lead into the locker room.

UC Irvine scored the first five points of the second half and Dru Joyce III quickly spent his second timeout of the afternoon, to regroup his team.

Duquesne’s response began with a Dinkins step back three-point shot as the Dukes scored the next seven points, to go back up by 20 points. UC Irvine went 4:33 without scoring during this stretch.

UC Irvine attempted to change its defense in one last effort to find some traction, but Duquesne adjusted with Dixon putting down a dunk.

Down the stretch, Joyce called a timeout, allowing Lucas Prolla to see his first action of the season.

Duquesne has one non-conference game remaining as Cleary will visit the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse Friday with the opening tip scheduled for 7 p.m. ESPN+ will carry the game.

VIDEOS