Duquesne coasts to win over Maryland-Baltimore County
By PSR Staff | Tue, 12/08/2015 - 21:14
Derrick Colter added 19 points, including five 3-pointers, and nine assists and Micah Mason had 13 points and seven assists as the Dukes upped their record to 7-2.
The 7-2 start is the best by a Duquesne team since the 1979-80 team opened 9-2.
Duquesne, which assisted on 25 of its 34 field goals, shot 53.1 percent, including 16-of-31 from the 3-point arc. The 16 3-pointers were one shy of the school record tied earlier this season in a win over Penn State.
Joe Sherburne hit six 3-pointers in leading UMBC (2-8) with a game-high 25 points.
"Our guys came out the way I thought they'd come out after we took that thumping Friday night [a 96-75 loss to Pitt]," said Duquesne head coach Jim Ferry. "I was pleased with our effort. I was pleased with our focus to come out and really jump these guys. I thought our senior leadership was big tonight."
Duquesne hit eight 3-pointers - with Colter and Gill accounting for three each - in the first 10 minutes, in building a 35-16 lead. The Dukes extended the advantage to 28 with just over two minutes left before UMBC cut it to 53-31 at the half.
Colter, Gill and Mason had three 3-pointers each in the opening 20 minutes.
UMBC opened the second half with an 11-0 run, powered by eight points from Sherburne, to pull within 11 before Jones converted a layup at the 17:34 mark.
The Dukes got 12 points from Gill and Jones in building the lead back to 21 with 7:24 left. Gill finished 8-of-10 from the field, while Jones went 8-of-12.
"I think in years past we would have crumbled a little bit," said Ferry referring to UMBC's second half-opening run. "I wasn't going to take a timeout. I wanted the upperclassmen to figure it out. To come up with a stop. To break the ice. These guys fought through it and showed a little character. In the years past, our youth would have hurt us in that run and it could have snowballed. Not with this team this year."
Duquesne heads to Johnstown, Pa. to face Saint Francis U (3-4) at 1:00 p.m. on Sat., Dec. 12 at the Cambria County War Memorial. It will be the first time in 45 seasons - and 11th time in the 75-game series - that the Dukes and Red Flash will meet in Johnstown.
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