Jan. 9, 2008

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PITTSBURGH - Reggie Jackson led four Duquesne players in double figures with 15 points and Shawn James tied the school record for blocked shots in a season as Duquesne (11-3, 1-0) extended its win streak to five with an Atlantic 10 Conference-opening 74-62 win over Fordham (6-7, 0-1) on Wednesday.

Duquesne, playing its first home conference opener in eight years, snapped a five-game series losing streak with the win.

James scored 14 points and rejected three shots to tie the Duquesne single-season record for blocks in a season of 60 set by Derrick Alston in 1991-92 and tied by Alston in 1992-93. James, who needs just eight blocks to become the 18th player in NCAA Division I history to reach 400 for his career, needed just 14 games to break the record that it took Alston 28 games to set (in both 1991-92 and 1992-93).

"Good big guys eliminate a lot of easy baskets," said Duquesne head coach Ron Everhart. "When you have guys that have the ability to do that, then you have a chance."

Fordham's Bryant Dunston had 19 points, 11 rebounds and eight blocks in a losing effort. Sebastian Greene added 20 points and a game-high 10 rebounds for the Rams.

Duquesne, which led from the 15:30 mark of the first half on, maintained a double-digit lead for all but one possession of the second half. The Dukes led by 20 with 2:38 left before Fordham ended the game with a 10-2 run.

Aaron Jackson added 12 points and eight rebounds and Damian Saunders had 10 points and nine boards for the Dukes who outscored the Rams 23-7 in second chance points.

Reggie Jackson scored 10 of his points in the first half as the Dukes jumped out to a 40-26 lead.

"Reggie Jackson was a great floor general for us tonight," said Everhart. "He's gotten away from trying to make the spectacular pass to making the good one."

Five of the eight Duquesne players that saw action had five or more rebounds as the Dukes finished with a 47-35 advantage on the glass.

Duquesne shot 42.1 percent, while Fordham - which shot a Palumbo Center record 69 percent in a 71-59 win over the Dukes last season - finished at 41.4 percent. DU, which forced 17 Fordham turnovers, turned it over just 10 times.

Duquesne plays its first A-10 road game on Sunday, Jan. 13 at 2:00 p.m. at nationally-ranked Rhode Island (14-2, 0-1). The Rams, ranked No. 22 by The Associated Press and No. 20 in the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll, are coming off a 92-83 loss at No. 17/22 (AP/ESPN) Dayton on Wednesday.

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