Duquesne tops UC Irvine for 3rd win in last 4 games

While Duquesne was enjoying a double-digit lead Saturday at halftime against UC Irvine, Dru Joyce III insisted he wasn’t nervous about the impending outcome, even though the Dukes’ first-year men’s basketball coach knew all along the Anteaters were renowned for their strong second-half play.

Two days earlier, they rallied from 14 points down at the break by erupting for 67 in the second half to win at Belmont.

This time, however, there would be no comeback.

Jahsean Corbett scored 15 points to go with eight rebounds and Tre Dinkins III and Cam Crawford added 13 points apiece as Duquesne won for the third time in four games, 70-54, at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse, continuing the Dukes’ climb out of an 0-6 hole to start the season.

“I don’t think there was any time for nerves,” Joyce said. “The message to our guys (at halftime) was not predicated to be aware they could come back. Yes, they could. I thought it was more important to talk to our guys about the challenge of trying to be better than the first half. I believe we took on the challenge of not trying to protect the lead, but to be better in the second half and perform better.”

The plan worked for the Dukes (4-8), who seemingly have UC Irvine’s number.

In just the third meeting between the schools — all in a four-year span — Duquesne made it three wins in a row against the Anteaters (10-2), preseason favorites to win the Big West Conference.

In the women’s opener, Duquesne won its seventh consecutive game, beating Bowling Green, 67-59, behind Megan McConnell’s second triple-double of the season. The 5-foot-7 senior from Chartiers Valley ended with 13 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

Andjela Matic led Duquesne (8-2) with 20 points, while Kiandra Browne added 15.

Erika Porter’s 19 points paced Bowling Green (6-5).

UC Irvine marked the fifth preseason conference favorite to face Duquesne, which for just the second time managed to beat one.

But it was a victory of resounding nature, the Dukes’ second in a row after knocking off Coastal Athletic Association favorite Towson a week ago in Akron, Ohio.

“I feel like we’re battle-tested. We’ve been challenged a lot, and we’re starting to figure it out now,” Crawford said. “It’s all the better for going into (Atlantic 10) play because it’s going to be a gauntlet. Every team in the A-10 is going to bring it, and we’re going to bring it, too. That’s what our nonconference has prepared us for.”

Duquesne was beaten by three conference favorites in Lipscomb (Atlantic Sun), Princeton (Ivy) and Milwaukee (Horizon).

“Even though we’ve gotten two wins in the past two games,” Crawford said, “there’s things we can correct and things we’re going to go back and watch on film to get us better for A-10 play and get us better for March, when that time comes. We’re just constantly trying to improve and get better, but we do feel good about where we’re at.”

Duquesne remains home for its final nonconference game Friday against Cleary, the second straight year that they’ve faced the NAIA school, coached by former Dukes assistant Carl Thomas.

Duquesne prevailed last season, 95-47.

The Dukes led UC Irvine from the opening tip, scoring the game’s first 10 points, and were up by as many as 22 (63-41) in the second half.

“I was aware that they’ve been a strong second-half team throughout the season,” Joyce said. “That’s what they do. They have experience and senior leadership. They’ve been through some tough battles. They’ve been champions … maybe going on their fourth in a row?”

Actually, UC Irvine, whose only other loss is to Oregon State, is seeking its third consecutive Big West regular-season title and fifth in the past seven seasons.

Duquesne came away a winner despite failing to reach the free-throw line until the 8-minute, 32-second mark of the second half. The Dukes led at halftime 43-24 on the strength of 11-of-18 3-point shooting.

Overall, Duquesne shot 49.1% and finished at 56.0 (14 or 25) from 3-point range, while limiting UC Irvine to 34.0% overall (18 for 53).

“It’s just believing in each other. We’ve had to learn how to play with each other,” said Corbett, one of seven transfers this season. “We had to find out what each other does best, what their games are. It’s going to be better.”

Said Crawford, another of those transfers: “We all want the same thing. We all want to win games.”

The growth spurts are starting to show, Joyce said, adding that he expects them from now on every time his players take to the court.

“Wins are great, losses hurt, but where are we going with this?” he said. “Are we growing, are we improving, are we getting better? I think today’s game is the residual effects of us continuing to grow.”