Since his arrival on Duquesne's campus five years ago, Kieron Achara has been part of teams that have a combined 49-94 record. He has played for two coaches, gone through a series of injuries and spent sleepless nights agonizing over five teammates who were shot after a campus dance.

---

Scouting Report

• • Scouting report
• Matchup: Saint Louis (16-13, 7-8 Atlantic 10) vs. Duquesne (16-12, 6-9), 4 p.m. today, Palumbo Center.
• TV, Radio, Internet: FSN Pittsburgh, KQV-AM (1410), GoDuquesne.com, redzonemedia.com.
• Saint Louis: Coming off a 70-50 loss at visiting St. Bonaventure. ... Rick Majerus is in first season as head coach. ... Are led in scoring by 6-2 Kevin Lisch (14.6 ppg) and Tommie Liddell III (12.2 ppg).
• Duquesne: Coming off a 90-85 loss at Temple for fifth consecutive defeat. ... Shawn James, who missed the Temple game with a shoulder injury, participated in a limited practice yesterday and his status will be determined today. ... Leading scorers are James (13.2 ppg, 7.1 rpg), 6-1 Kojo Mensah (12.6 ppg). ... Rank seventh nationally with 82.3 points per game.
• Hidden stat: Duquesne is 1-8 in games decided by seven or fewer points. The only win was by two points against Dayton.

---

Achara, a 6-foot-10 graduate student, will play his final home game along with seniors Reggie Jackson and Gary Tucker when Duquesne (16-12, 6-9) meets Saint Louis (16-13, 7-8) at 4 p.m. today at the Palumbo Center.

Duquesne, which has lost five consecutive games, can be seeded anywhere between No. 8 and No. 12 in the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament next week at Atlantic City, N.J.

"As much as we've been disappointed with the losses, I'll always be remembered as a winner at Duquesne," said Achara, a native of Scotland who has an undergraduate degree in management and marketing and is taking graduate courses in leadership and professional advancement. "We've achieved something Duquesne hasn't done in a while and I hope I've been part of the team that started something that will be carried on."

Duquesne is assured of its first winning season since going 17-13 in 1993-94.

Duquesne's turnaround started two years ago when Ron Everhart became the head coach after a 3-24 season under Danny Nee. Achara and junior Aaron Jackson were the only players on Nee's team that made the transition to Everhart's program.

"I felt like a freshman all over again. It was a whole new team, a whole new experience, and I had to impress a new coach," said Achara, who missed Nee's final season with a shoulder injury and received a medical redshirt. "I came to Duquesne as an unknown and I'm proud to say I've earned the respect of two coaches who have named me captain three times."

A month before Everhart's first practice, five Duquesne players were wounded.

"I'll never forget it," said Achara, who was in the dormitory at the time. "It always will be in the back of my mind. Something like that helps you realize what's important to you, that you can't take life, in general, for granted."

Achara, who averages 11 points and 4 rebounds this season, plans to play professional basketball next season.

"I'm one of the happiest guys in the world. I feel blessed that I got an opportunity to play basketball, the game I love, and I will have no college debt. I feel blessed," said Achara, 24, the team's elder statesman. "Pittsburgh will always be my second home. I don't think my personality has changed since I came to Duquesne. I'm the same old Kieron, just a little older."