DUQUESNE

• Who: Duquesne (5-8, 0-0 A-10) vs. Rhode Island (11-1, 0-0 A-10)
• When: 2:01 p.m.
• Where: UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse
• TV: ESPN+
• Radio: iHeartRadio
• Boxscore: SIDEARM stats
• Media notes: Duquesne | Rhode Island

► FOLLOW THE ACTION

• That's game. Dukes strong defensively and on the boards to finish this one out. 

• Corbett finally ends the drought with a bucket, but misses the free throw in an attempt to finish the three-point play. Dukes shooting just over 50% from the line today. 

• Eight straight points for Thomas. They just can't stop him right now. Eight-point game. Dukes haven't been able to answer. 

• Another bucket by Thomas in transition makes it a 10-point game with 5:23 left. 

• Dukes led by 16 before a big four-point play by Thomas. Hit a deep three and sunk the subsequent free throw. Still under six minutes to go. A 12-point game. 

• Media TO - Duquesne leads 56-44 with 7:51 left. 

• Dinkins just got a technical shortly after getting an elbow to the face from Thomas, who then missed both of the technical free throws. Some would say, "Ball don't lie." 

• Dixon is up to nine points (4-4 from the field) and five rebounds in 12 minutes today.

• The second oop: 

• The first oop: 

• This place is going nuts after back-to-back slams from Dixon and Wilborn. Wow. It's 49-34 in favor of the Dukes with 12:41 to go. Duquesne continues to play with energy and hustle. Big keys.

• And the foot is back on the gas. Seven straight points, including a corner three from Crawford, to extend the lead back to double digits at 41-31 with under 16 minutes to go. This bucket by Wilborn started the run: 

• Dukes starting to take their foot off the gas to start the second. Five quick points for the Rams. 

• Second half underway.

• Duquesne struggled with a 1 for 6 showing from the field late in the half. Went 1 for 7 from three-point range to finish. Dukes shot 45.2% from the field and 33.3% from deep. Rhode Island wound up shooting 39.1% from the field and 20% from long range. 

• Now Dinkins hits a three from the top of the key for a 34-23 lead. 

• Rhode Island has clawed its way back to within seven with 1:30 to go, but Drissa Traore was just assessed a technical foul for slapping the backboard after a dunk. Can't do that there. Dinkins hits a free throw to push the lead back to eight. 

• Media TO - Duquesne leads 28-16 with 3:59 remaining. Everyone contributing offensively thus far. Dukes shooting 50% from the field. Rhode Island shooting 33%.

• The key for the Dukes to maintain this lead is avoiding the temptation to settle for shots. Have to look for the right looks. Nicely done there by Crawford to avoid settling for one and getting it inside to Dixon for an easier look inside. 

• Media TO - Duquesne leads 22-13 with 7:36 left in the half. 

• Dukes are rolling. Matus Hronsky just hit a three from the wing and Rozier added a steal and a layup to make it 20-11 in favor of Duquesne with 10:33 to go in the half. A 12-0 run over the last three minutes for the Dukes. A 17-4 run over the last 7:30.

• Things getting a bit chippy. David Dixon was just getting into it with Jaden House. Offsetting technical and personal fouls called here. Dukes have their first lead behind a 5-0 run in the last 1:20.

• Rhode Island ended its drought thanks to a steal and a bucket by Thomas. Then, on the other end, Rozier tied the game with a three from the wing. 

• Rhode Island has been held scoreless over the last two-plus minutes, but the Dukes haven't been able to take advantage on the offensive end. Still a one-point deficit in the midst of their own drought. Some sloppy play with early turnovers, too. 

• Duquesne trails 9-8 at the first media timeout with 15:34 to go in the half. Dukes have converted on 3 of their last 4 field goal attempts. Rhode Island is 1 for its last 4. 

• Dukes keeping pace with the Rams here in the early going. Dinkins just answered a three on the other end with one of his own. Duquesne trails 7-6 in the opening three minutes. 

• Chabi Barre is dressed for this one, but will not start for the Dukes. Barre aggravated his hamstring injury and left early in the first half against Cleary on Friday. Still no Jake DiMichele, who has now missed seven straight games.

• Duquesne starters: Tre Dinkins III, Cam Crawford, Jahsean Corbett, Jakub Necas, Eli Wilborn

• Rhode Island starters: Sebastian Thomas, Jamarques Lawrence, Tyonne Farrell, David Green, Javonte Brown

• Good afternoon and Happy New Year everyone! Here at the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse for this Atlantic 10 Conference opener. Glad to have you here following along with me. 

JOSE NEGRON / DKPS