While UMBC (2-8) took advantage of a turnover by Jeremiah Jones after Duquesne (7-2) grabbed the opening tip-off, by Joe Sherbune’s three-pointer, it would be the Retrievers first and only lead of the game. The Dukes answered quickly when Derrick Colter hit a three-pointer, which would be the first of five he would shoot during the game.
The Dukes took advantage of their three-point shooting ability to establish an early lead, and at the 15:50 mark after Colter hit another three-pointer, the Dukes were up by eight, 15-7. UMBC cut their deficit to six at the 13:13 mark, the closest they would come the rest of the game to catching the Dukes.
It wasn’t only the accurate and aggressive three-point shooting by the much-improved Duquesne offense after its 96-75 loss to Pitt last Friday,three steals each by Micah Mason, L.G. Gill and Colter, in the first three minutes of the game gave the Dukes several additional scoring opportunities which they capitalized on.
With 2:07 left in the first half Duquesne established their biggest lean of the game, 28 points, 53-25.
“I thought our guys really came out the way I thought they were going to come out after we took that thumping Friday night,” Duquesne head Coach Jim Ferry said, obviously well-pleased with the team’s efforts.
Overall, Duquesne shot an impressive 53 percent of its field goals, 52 percent of 3-pointers and were 45 percent from the foul line.
Going into halftime the Dukes held a 22 point lead over the Retrievers, 53-31, holding them to only a 30 percent field goal average, 23 percent of 3-pointers in the first half.
UMBC improved their averages in the second half and finished the game hitting 39 percent of its field goals, 33 percent of 3-pointers and were 69 percent from the fould line.
Despite its improved offense, UMBC did not come closer than 11 points in the second half to catching Duquesne.
High scorer for the contest was UMBC’s Joe Sherburne with 25 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists. L.G. Gill for the Dukes led the scoring with a double-double 22 points, 10 rebounds, all defensive. In all, Duquesne had three other players in double-digit scoring, Micah Mason with 13, Derrick Colter had 19 and Jones finished up with 20 points.
Duqesne will make the two hour drive to Johnstown, Pa., on Saturday where they will face Saint Francis University, which is off to a (3-4) struggling start.
