Balanced scoring ends losing streaks for Duquesne basketball
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Sean Johnson and T.J. McConnell led five Duquesne scorers in double figures with 16 points each as the Dukes defeated Rhode Island, 78-71, Saturday afternoon at the Rams' Ryan Center in Kingston, R.I.
Mike Talley added 13, B.J. Monteiro 12 and Eric Evans 10 for Duquesne (11-7, 2-2 Atlantic 10 Conference), which defeated Rhode Island for the first time in the past eight regular-season meetings.
The victory also ended a three-game losing streak for the Dukes at Ryan Center. Duquesne's previous win at Rhode Island was Jan. 21, 2004.
The Dukes shot 49.1 percent (27 of 55), outscoring the Rams, 22-2, on fastbreak points and 40-28 in the paint.
The Rams (3-15, 0-3) pulled within two, 52-50, on Andre Malone's 3 pointer with 11:12 left, but Talley scored the next five points as Duquesne took a 57-50 lead on a 3-pointer with 9:36 left.
The Dukesled by no less than five and by as many as 11 the rest of the way, making seven of eight free throws in the final three minutes.
"We had a lot of efficient possessions ... especially late," Duquesne coach Ron Everhart said. "I liked the fact that we had five players in double figures and I really liked our effort."
First Published January 15, 2012 12:00 am
