LAS VEGAS — Duquesne scored a basket and free throw in the final 16 seconds to outlast USF, 67-65, at the Continental Tires Las Vegas Classic on Friday at Orleans Arena.
USF, 7-5, is still searching for its first win away from home. The Dons meet Nevada today at 8 p.m. Duquesne faces Southern Illinois at 5:30 p.m.
The Dons took a 56-55 lead late in the game thanks to a 9-0 run spearheaded by 3-pointers from Frankie Ferrari and Chase Foster. Eric Williams Jr. scored four straight to put Duquesne out in front, 59-56, with 3:15 left.
Ferrari came right back with two straight scores to give the Dons a 60-59 lead. A basket by Kellon Taylor and a three-point play by Tarin Smith made it 64-62 Dukes with 1:11 left.
USF’s Sauley Boum tried to drive for a potential game-tying score, but ran into Duquesne’s Jordan Robinson. Both fell to the ground. Williams Jr. took the ball and dunked for a 66-62 lead with 16.2 left.
USF’s Matt McCarthy cut the lead to 66-65 with a three-point play with 9.8 left. Mike Lewis, who led all scorers with 20 points, was fouled and left the door wide open when he made just one of two at the line. After a timeout, Foster hoisted up a potential game-winning shot that went long.
Shorts carries UC Davis
T.J. Shorts, UC Davis’ 5-9 point guard, hit eight straight free throws in the final three minutes to lead the Aggies past Lamar, 77-68.
Shorts, who had a good outing against Nevada on Tuesday with 13 points, led all scorers with 25 points. He went 13-for 13 from the line.
After a 3-pointer by Colton Weisbrod trimmed the Davis lead to 64-60 with 4:11 left, the Aggies went on an 11-3 surge to take a 75-63 lead.
Silas Schneider added 11 for UCD.
Radford holds on
Despite not scoring a field goal for the final 4 1/2 minutes, the Highlanders held on for a 66-60 victory over North Carolina A&T in the Friday opener.
Caleb Tanner’s 3-pointer gave Radford a 60-49 lead with 4:27 left, and the Highlanders made six straight free throws in the final 2:28 to grab the win.
North Carolina A&T used an 8-0 run to close to 62-60 with 52.4 left on a 3-pointer by Kameron Langley, a lay-up by Devonte Boykins and three points by Milik Gantz.
Carlick Jones led Radford with 14 and Tanner added 12. Femi Olujobi led all scorers with 23 points and 11 rebounds.
