Disastrous Start Sinks Duquesne at St. Bonaventure, 65-56

ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. — Wednesday night’s game between the Duquesne Dukes and St. Bonaventure Bonnies started at 7 p.m.

The Dukes didn’t show up until a few minutes later.

St. Bonaventure started the game on a 20-3 opening run and withstood one late charge to beat Duquesne, 65-56 at Reilly Center.

The Dukes missed almost every shot they looked at in the game’s opening period. Of Duquesne’s first 14 field goals, 13 went wide of the mark, in a combination between good shots that just wouldn’t fall and then some frustrating shot selection.

Meanwhile, the Bonnies hit everything in sight. They started 8 of 10 from the floor while building the big lead.

The rest of the game remained remarkably even. The final rebounds were 36-34, St. Bonaventure. Duquesne had fewer turnovers, 10 to 13.  But for the most part, it was that early run of hot-and-cold shooting that decided things.

The deficit remained 15 at the half and it wasn’t until late the game that Duquesne cut the lead to under 10 points. Jimmy Clark III (12 points, 5 of 14) and R.J. Gunn Jr. (10 points, 4 of 14) were volume scorers for Duquesne. Gunn added 10 boards for a double-double.

Tre Williams made his return after missing two games with an injury. He was a strong 5 of 8 for 11 points while playing 19 minutes off the bench.

Guard Daryl Banks was a tough matchup for the Duquesne guards. He hit 3 of 10 from 3-point range and added four assists and four steals to his 15 points.

St. Bonaventure has won six in a row in the rivalry and nine of the last 10. Keith Dambrot fell to 1-11 against the Bonnies. The Dukes will get another shot at the Bonnies later this season back in Pittsburgh on Feb. 11.

The Dukes fell to 3-3 in A-10 play, while the Bonnies moved to 4-2 and into a tie with Richmond for fourth place. 

Duquesne (13-6) finished its three-game road swing 1-2 and will now return home to UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse for home games against Fordham Saturday and Loyola Chicago next Wednesday.