Duquesne defeats Cleary U 99-49
Duquesne Dominates Cleary U in Statement Win
In front of its home crowd at the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse, the Duquesne Dukes sent a clear message on Saturday night: they're a force to be reckoned with in college basketball.
The visiting Cleary U Falcons, who came into the game as underdogs, were no match for the high-flying Dukes. Duquesne's 99-49 victory was nothing short of a blowout, with the home team leading by as many as 52 points at one point in the game.
The largest lead of the night belonged to Duquesne, which took control early on and never looked back. The Dukes' dominant performance was led by Jimmie Williams, who poured in 16 points on 2-3 three-point shooting. Jakub Necas chipped in with 10 rebounds and 11 points, while Alex Williams added 4 assists to round out the top Duquesne performers.
Meanwhile, Cleary U struggled to find its footing. The Falcons were held to just 19 field goals from the floor, including a dismal 15.4% three-point shooting effort. Zane Kemp led the way for Cleary U with 8 points and 6 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Dukes' stifling defense.
Duquesne's balanced attack was on full display, as they shot 38-72 from the field (53.0%) and made 13 of 19 free throws. The team also outrebounded Cleary U 57-29, with Jakub Necas leading the way in rebounds.
The advanced statistics told a similar story: Duquesne's effective field goal percentage was 59.7%, while their opponents shot just 30.6%. The Dukes also boasted an impressive true shooting percentage of 61.6%.
For Cleary U, the loss served as a tough reminder that they still have work to do if they want to compete with teams like Duquesne. The Falcons' struggles on the road will undoubtedly be a focus for their coaches and players in the coming days.
Duquesne, on the other hand, celebrated a statement win that should send shockwaves through the conference. With this dominant performance, the Dukes have made a strong case for themselves as one of the top teams in the league.
As the non-conference slate continues, Duquesne will look to build on this momentum and make a push for the NCAA Tournament. For Cleary U, it's back to the drawing board after a tough night that showed just how far they have to go.