Duquesne Dukes Hold Off La Salle Explorers 62-61 Behind David Dixon's 13 Points

The Duquesne Dukes, led by David Dixon's 13 points and 10 rebounds, managed to hold off the La Salle Explorers 62-61 in a closely contested matchup at the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse, a venue that has seen its fair share of nail-biters this season, with 7 of the last 10 games decided by 5 points or less. Duquesne's recent form has been impressive, winning 4 of their last 5 games, including a 71-65 victory over George Mason and a 76-61 win over Rhode Island, with their only loss in that stretch being a 79-87 defeat at the hands of St. Bonaventure. La Salle, on the other hand, has struggled, losing all 5 of their last games, including a 68-77 loss to VCU and a 58-82 drubbing at the hands of Saint Louis, with their most recent loss being a 58-64 defeat at Fordham. Despite being outscored by an average of 11.6 points over their last 5 games, La Salle managed to keep this one close, trailing by just 4 points with 2 minutes remaining, thanks in part to Jaden Johnson's 11 points and 5 assists.

As the game wore on, it became clear that Duquesne's defense would be the deciding factor, holding La Salle to just 61 points, 11.6 points below their average over the last 5 games, and 9 points below their season average. Duquesne's ability to limit La Salle's scoring opportunities was crucial, as they were outrebounded 32-29 and committed 14 turnovers, 4 more than La Salle. The Dukes' defense was particularly effective in the first half, holding La Salle to just 28 points, 32.5% of their total output, and forcing 7 turnovers, which led to 10 points off turnovers. This defensive effort was a key factor in Duquesne's 32-28 halftime lead, a margin that would prove crucial in the end.

Beyond the numbers, David Dixon's performance was impressive, as he hit several big shots, including a crucial jumper with 1:15 remaining to put Duquesne up by 3 points, and grabbed 5 offensive rebounds, leading to 6 second-chance points for the Dukes. Brandon Hall and Alex Williams also chipped in with 12 points each, with Hall hitting 2 three-pointers and Williams adding 4 assists. For La Salle, Jaden Johnson's 11 points and 5 assists were a bright spot, but he was just 3-10 from the field, and the team as a whole shot just 38.5% from the field, including 25% from three-point range. Rob Dockery and Ashton Walker added 9 points each, but it wasn't enough to overcome Duquesne's defensive effort.

The CHD Scout prediction of a 14.3-point Duquesne victory seemed unlikely at times, given the closeness of the game, but ultimately proved correct, albeit by a much narrower margin than expected.

The prediction was correct, but the margin was far closer than anticipated, due in part to La Salle's ability to limit Duquesne's scoring opportunities, holding them to just 62 points, 16.4 points below their average over the last 5 games. Duquesne's defense, which has been a strength all season, was the key factor in their victory, as they held La Salle to just 61 points, 11.6 points below their average over the last 5 games. This defensive effort, combined with La Salle's struggles on offense, made the difference in the game, and allowed Duquesne to come out on top.

The victory for Duquesne is a significant one, as it keeps them in the hunt for a potential postseason berth, having now won 4 of their last 5 games, and moves them to 16-10 on the season. La Salle, on the other hand, falls to 7-19, and their chances of a postseason appearance seem increasingly slim, having lost all 5 of their last games. With just a few games remaining in the regular season, every victory is crucial, and Duquesne want to build on this momentum as they head into their final stretch of games, including a matchup against St. Bonaventure, a team they lost to just 10 days ago. Duquesne's recent form, combined with their victory over La Salle, suggests that they may be peaking at the right time, and could make a deep run in the conference tournament.

The win for Duquesne is a significant one, as it keeps them in the hunt for a potential postseason berth, and moves them to 16-10 on the season, with a NET ranking of 117. La Salle, on the other hand, falls to 7-19, and their chances of a postseason appearance seem increasingly slim, with a NET ranking of 242. The victory for Duquesne also gives them a crucial Quadrant 4 win, which could be important in terms of their postseason resume, as they look to build on their recent form and make a deep run in the conference tournament. With just a few games remaining in the regular season, every victory is crucial, and Duquesne want to build on this momentum as they head into their final stretch of games.

In terms of the tournament picture, Duquesne's victory over La Salle keeps them on the bubble, but a win is a win, and they will take it, especially given their recent form. La Salle, on the other hand, is all but eliminated from postseason contention, and want to play spoiler in their final few games, starting with a matchup against VCU. Duquesne's victory also sets up a crucial matchup against St. Bonaventure, a team they lost to just 10 days ago, and a win in that game could go a long way in securing a postseason berth. With the conference tournament just around the corner, every game is crucial, and Duquesne want to build on their momentum and make a deep run.