Duquesne already has won seven road games this season, its best mark in 38 years, and all have been double-digit victories.

Of the Dukes' five road losses, two have been to ranked teams -- Pitt and Duke -- and the other three have been by a combined nine points, with two overtime losses.

With four games remaining, including a road game tonight at Massachusetts, the Dukes still are within striking distance of fourth place in the Atlantic 10, which would cement a bye in the first round of the conference tournament next month in Atlantic City.

Duquesne (16-9, 7-5) is tied for sixth place with Saint Joseph's (14-12, 7-5). The Dukes trail fourth-place Rhode Island (20-8, 9-4) by 1Â 1/2 games and fifth-place Saint Louis (17-10, 8-5) by a half-game, and both of those teams will visit the Palumbo Center in the next week.

Although Massachusetts (10-15, 5-7) is the only remaining opponent with a losing record, the Dukes can't afford to look past the Minutemen, who own an 11-game home-winning streak in the series.

Duquesne's most recent victory in Amherst, Mass., came 20 years ago, an 88-84 decision Jan. 14, 1989.

"Like every game in this league, it's going to be an absolute battle," Dukes coach Ron Everhart said.

Massachusetts and Duquesne enter the game tonight as two of the better 3-point shooting teams in the country. The Minutemen have made 208, Duquesne 207. Massachusetts ranks 21st nationally with 8.32 per game; Duquesne is 22nd with 8.28.

First-year coach Derek Kellogg has been impressed with the Dukes' resurgence and up-tempo style of play. He is a former point guard who helped lead the Minutemen to four NCAA tournament appearances while playing for John Calipari and later served as an assistant under Calipari at Memphis.

"I think they're a fun team to watch," Kellogg said. "They're dangerous. They shoot a lot of 3s. They push you in transition. They trap all over the court. It's kind of like the way most kids would like to play.

"It's just, as a coach, you've got to be able to pull the reins off of them and let them go. And coach Everhart has done a fantastic job with a young team."

Junior guard Ricky Harris is Massachusetts' leading scorer, averaging 18.5 points per game, including a team-high 72 3-pointers. Senior forward Tony Gaffney, a transfer from Boston University, is averaging 12.2 points and 10.2 rebounds.

He needs one more steal to become the fifth player since 1996-97 to have 100 blocks and 50 steals in a season. The last to achieve the mark was Duke's Shelden Williams in 2005-06.

"Gaffney is one of those kids I have known since he was an incoming freshman at BU and I was at Northeastern," Everhart said. "He's had a great career there. I'm happy for him. He's a great kid and a very good basketball player."

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NOTES -- PCNC announced yesterday it will carry Duquesne's final regular season game March 7 at Dayton. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ... Ray Goss, in his 41st season as the play-by-play voice of the Dukes, will sign his book, "Misadventures in Broadcasting," from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday at the Barnes & Noble bookstore at 1015 Forbes Ave. on Duquesne's campus.

Matchup: Duquesne (16-9, 7-5 A-10) vs. Massachusetts (10-15, 5-7), 7 p.m. today, Mullins Center, Amherst, Mass.

Radio: KQV-AM (1410).

Duquesne: Held La Salle to an opponent season-low 27 points on 33 percent shooting Sunday in the second half of a 79-68 win. ... Is 12-4 when leading at halftime. ... Freshman backup G Eric Evans has reached double figures 11 times.

Massachusetts: Snapped a two-game losing streak Sunday with a 70-69 road win at Saint Joseph's. ... Leads all-time series, 33-21. ... Senior G Chris Lowe is school's all-time assists leader with 640.

Hidden stat: The Minutemen are 7-0 against the Dukes at the Mullins Center.