Duquesne finished December with a four-game winning streak.

They haven't played in a week and, under normal circumstances, the worst time to take such a long break is in the middle of a winning streak because basketball is often a game of momentum.

This particular break, however, came at a good time for the Dukes because their previous game -- a 76-65 win against Bowling Green -- was a non-conference game -- and tonight begins their Atlantic 10 schedule.

The Dukes (9-4) will play host to Charlotte (5-7) tonight in their conference opener, and it should be a good test because the 49ers have had the Dukes' number in recent years.

The 49ers are 5-1 all time against the Dukes and have won all three games since they joined the Atlantic 10 four years ago. The 49ers have won four in a row against Duquesne and have not lost to the Dukes since 1993.

But Charlotte has been inconsistent and absorbed a major blow to its player rotation recently.

The 49ers will be without 6-foot-5 forward Charles Dewhurst, who injured his knee in their previous game -- a loss to Maryland -- and they also are expected to be without 6-foot-6 sophomore forward An'Juan Wilderness, one of four players averaging at least 10 points per game.

Without those two in the lineup, the 49ers will lean heavily on their 6-foot-7 leading scorer LaMont Mack, who averages 11.9 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.

Duquesne, on the other hand, seemingly has responded to head coach Ron Everhart's challenge to play better defense in the wake of an embarrassing, 86-60 loss to Old Dominion at the Palumbo Center Dec. 17.

Defense is the main reason the team is on its four-game winning streak and figures to be their calling card throughout the Atlantic 10 schedule.

In four games since the Old Dominion debacle, the Dukes have only given up more than 65 points once -- and that was in a 97-79 win against North Carolina Central in a game in which they led comfortably most of the game.

The Dukes have also gotten a boost on offense from freshman Eric Evans, who has averaged 12 points per game over the past four and had a career-high 19 in the win against North Carolina Central.

Matchup: Charlotte (5-7) at Duquesne (9-4), 7 p.m. today, Palumbo Center.

TV/radio: KQV-AM (1410).

Duquesne: Has won four consecutive games coming into Atlantic 10 opener. ... Will open conference play at home for second time in past nine seasons. ... Has winning non-conference record for the second consecutive season -- the first time since 1993-94.

Charlotte: In fourth season in Atlantic 10. ... Is 5-1 in six games against Duquesne, including 2-1 in Pittsburgh, 3-0 in conference games. Has won four of past five games, but lost to Maryland in most recent one. ... Led by LaMont Mack (11.9 ppg) and Rashad Coleman (11.3).

Hidden stat: All Duquesne's wins this season have been by double digits.