Sixty points! In one half! Goodness.
Duquesne put up that huge number in the first half Wednesday night and went on to beat Saint Joseph's, 92-80, on the road in Philadelphia for an Atlantic 10 victory. The victory snapped an 11-game road losing streak for the program, going back to last season.
The Dukes (13-5, 3-2 A10) had an amazing shooting performance in the first half, hitting 10 of 13 from 3-point land (77 percent) and 20 of 30 overall from the field (67 percent).
That enabled the visitors to erupt to a 60-44 cushion, the most points Duquesne has scored in a half during coach Keith Dambrot's tenure.
It was the most points Duquesne has scored in the first half of a game since putting up 63 against Marshall way back in 1969. The school record for points in a half came in 2007, when the Dukes scored 73 in the second half of a win over Howard.
The shooting cooled off in the second half, and the Dukes had only 32 points, but they still coasted to victory. Duquesne shot 44 percent overall and 33 percent (4 for 12) from 3 in the second half.
R.J. Gunn led Duquesne with 26 points, hitting 8 of 10 from the field and 5 of 7 from 3. Three other starters scored in double figures: Joe Reece with 18, Dae Dae Grant with 17 and Jimmy Clark III with 11.
The Dukes' defense held Saint Joseph's (6-10, 0-4) to 36 percent shooting.
Duquesne has won six of its past eight games and has played well so far in the Atlantic 10 after being picked to finish last in the league in the preseason poll.
The Dukes have a week off and will play next on Jan. 18 at St. Bonaventure.
THE ESSENTIALS