The Duquesne University men's basketball team was held to its lowest point total of the 2025-26 season Wednesday, dropping a 67-56 decision to Davidson at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse. The Dukes have dropped back-to-back games after a five-game winning streak and dipped to 16-12 (.571) overall, including 8-7 (.533) in the Atlantic 10.
POINTS OF EMPHASIS
Forward Alex Williams drove the paint and converted a layup to give Duquesne an early 13-11 advantage, but an 18-2 run allowed Davidson (17-11 | 8-7 Atlantic 10) to open up a 29-15 edge with 4:35 to go before halftime. The Dukes went over five minutes without scoring before a layup from senior forward David Dixon trimmed the deficit to 21-15, but the Wildcats would answer with three-pointers from Parker Friedrichsen and Hunter Adams to grab their first double-digit lead. Davidson eventually owned a 35-21 cushion at the break and grabbed its biggest lead with 10:02 to play, 50-35, after JQ Roberts scored and was fouled. Roberts would successfully convert the three-point play.
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"Sometimes these games, especially in conference play, they just keep coming," head coach Dru Joyce III said. "One after another. We're deep in February. It can be monotonous at times. You have to have a toughness to you, because at this point in the year, your body doesn't feel the same. It's banged up. It's a mental challenge as much as it is a physical challenge. You have to get yourself ready to play, and I don't believe our guys had the right mindset and attack going into the game from a mental and physical standpoint that was needed. We played from behind in both halves. I don't think we did a good job defensively of standing up to the challenge. We have to get the ball stopped before the free-throw line with a certain level of physicality and be in the gaps so they don't have as many driving lanes. They controlled the paint for most of the night."
CROWDED NETWORK
Ian Platteeuw sprang open for a dunk with the Dukes pressing that extended the lead for Davidson to 56-41 with 4:54 to play before Duquesne made one last push. Junior guard Jimmie Williams connected for a floater before a three-pointer and dunk off a steal from senior guard Tarence Guinyard helped the Dukes close to within 56-48. The Wildcats sealed the win at the free-throw line, going 11-for-16 at the stripe in the final 2:40 of action. Guinyard scored 18 of his game-high 20 points in the second half and also added five assists and a pair of steals. Dixon contributed 12 points, seven boards and a pair of blocks, while off the bench Alex Williams scored 11. Friedrichsen led all scorers for the Wildcats with 16 points, while Devin Brown scored 11 and grabbed six rebounds.
QUOTABLE
"We haven't shot the ball very well, and I thought we even had some good, clean looks tonight," Joyce III said. "We have to have more poise, though. There were some that were rushed, but we still have to move the ball. The ball movement hasn't been crisp enough where we're getting paint touches, kick outs and the next opportunity. We have to be ready to shoot some of those, too. The nature of what we do is the next game. That's all we have to focus on. Our job is to make sure we're prepared, that we find our rhythm of what we want to do offensively and defensively to try and win a game in St. Louis."
NOTES
The Dukes were just 1-for-11 from beyond the arc in the first half and 5-of-24 (20.8%) overall … Davidson closed 6-for-23 (26.1%) from deep … Jimmie Williams was held to seven points on 2-of-9 shooting before fouling out with 40.9 seconds to play … The first 30 minutes of action featured 12 fouls combined between the two teams, with the final 10 minutes the whistle chirping 16 occasions … Davidson outrebounded Duquesne, 42-33, including a 12-9 edge in offensive caroms … The Dukes slipped to 3-2 (.600) this season when both Dixon and Alex Williams score in double figures … Davidson shot 41.1 percent (23-for-56) from the field, while Duquesne finished at 35.6 percent (21-for-59) … Each of the 11 Wildcats that played scored … Davidson rejected seven shots, including two each from Brown and Platteeuw … Roberts Blums grabbed 10 rebounds for the Wildcats … Dixon appeared in career game No. 124, which ranks fourth all-time on the Bluff … The pair of blocks for Dixon extended his career total to 172, just five shy of tying Michael Hughes (2018-21) for fourth in program history … The 21 points in the opening 20 minutes are the fewest scored in a half in two years under Joyce III.
UP NEXT
The Dukes open a two-game road trip in St. Louis, Mo., Saturday, Feb. 28, with an 8:00 p.m. ET tip against No. 23 Saint Louis at Chaifetz Arena.
THE ASYLUM
Slow start dooms Dukes
The Duquesne University men's basketball team was held to its lowest point total of the 2025-26 season Wednesday, dropping a 67-56 decision to Davidson at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse. The Dukes have dropped back-to-back games after a five-game winning streak and dipped to 16-12 (.571) overall, including 8-7 (.533) in the Atlantic 10.
POINTS OF EMPHASIS
Forward Alex Williams drove the paint and converted a layup to give Duquesne an early 13-11 advantage, but an 18-2 run allowed Davidson (17-11 | 8-7 Atlantic 10) to open up a 29-15 edge with 4:35 to go before halftime. The Dukes went over five minutes without scoring before a layup from senior forward David Dixon trimmed the deficit to 21-15, but the Wildcats would answer with three-pointers from Parker Friedrichsen and Hunter Adams to grab their first double-digit lead. Davidson eventually owned a 35-21 cushion at the break and grabbed its biggest lead with 10:02 to play, 50-35, after JQ Roberts scored and was fouled. Roberts would successfully convert the three-point play.
QUOTABLE
"Sometimes these games, especially in conference play, they just keep coming," head coach Dru Joyce III said. "One after another. We're deep in February. It can be monotonous at times. You have to have a toughness to you, because at this point in the year, your body doesn't feel the same. It's banged up. It's a mental challenge as much as it is a physical challenge. You have to get yourself ready to play, and I don't believe our guys had the right mindset and attack going into the game from a mental and physical standpoint that was needed. We played from behind in both halves. I don't think we did a good job defensively of standing up to the challenge. We have to get the ball stopped before the free-throw line with a certain level of physicality and be in the gaps so they don't have as many driving lanes. They controlled the paint for most of the night."
CROWDED NETWORK
Ian Platteeuw sprang open for a dunk with the Dukes pressing that extended the lead for Davidson to 56-41 with 4:54 to play before Duquesne made one last push. Junior guard Jimmie Williams connected for a floater before a three-pointer and dunk off a steal from senior guard Tarence Guinyard helped the Dukes close to within 56-48. The Wildcats sealed the win at the free-throw line, going 11-for-16 at the stripe in the final 2:40 of action. Guinyard scored 18 of his game-high 20 points in the second half and also added five assists and a pair of steals. Dixon contributed 12 points, seven boards and a pair of blocks, while off the bench Alex Williams scored 11. Friedrichsen led all scorers for the Wildcats with 16 points, while Devin Brown scored 11 and grabbed six rebounds.
QUOTABLE
"We haven't shot the ball very well, and I thought we even had some good, clean looks tonight," Joyce III said. "We have to have more poise, though. There were some that were rushed, but we still have to move the ball. The ball movement hasn't been crisp enough where we're getting paint touches, kick outs and the next opportunity. We have to be ready to shoot some of those, too. The nature of what we do is the next game. That's all we have to focus on. Our job is to make sure we're prepared, that we find our rhythm of what we want to do offensively and defensively to try and win a game in St. Louis."
NOTES
The Dukes were just 1-for-11 from beyond the arc in the first half and 5-of-24 (20.8%) overall … Davidson closed 6-for-23 (26.1%) from deep … Jimmie Williams was held to seven points on 2-of-9 shooting before fouling out with 40.9 seconds to play … The first 30 minutes of action featured 12 fouls combined between the two teams, with the final 10 minutes the whistle chirping 16 occasions … Davidson outrebounded Duquesne, 42-33, including a 12-9 edge in offensive caroms … The Dukes slipped to 3-2 (.600) this season when both Dixon and Alex Williams score in double figures … Davidson shot 41.1 percent (23-for-56) from the field, while Duquesne finished at 35.6 percent (21-for-59) … Each of the 11 Wildcats that played scored … Davidson rejected seven shots, including two each from Brown and Platteeuw … Roberts Blums grabbed 10 rebounds for the Wildcats … Dixon appeared in career game No. 124, which ranks fourth all-time on the Bluff … The pair of blocks for Dixon extended his career total to 172, just five shy of tying Michael Hughes (2018-21) for fourth in program history … The 21 points in the opening 20 minutes are the fewest scored in a half in two years under Joyce III.
UP NEXT
The Dukes open a two-game road trip in St. Louis, Mo., Saturday, Feb. 28, with an 8:00 p.m. ET tip against No. 23 Saint Louis at Chaifetz Arena.
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