Score: Duquesne 69, VCU 59
Location: Richmond, Va. (Stuart C. Siegel Center)
Records: VCU 19-11 (11-6 Atlantic 10), Duquesne 19-11 (9-8)

The short story: Senior guard Joe Bamisile led VCU with 18 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome a second-half push by Duquesne Tuesday night at the Siegel Center.
 
OPENING TIP

• Bamisile knocked down 4-of-9 from beyond the 3-point line for the Black and Gold
• Sophomore forward Tobi Lawal addeed 11 points off the bench and added five rebounds on the night for the Rams
• Senior guard Zeb Jackson also provided 10 points, five rebounds and three steals to the VCU effort
• Dae Dae Grant led the Dukes with 26 points

THE DIFFERENCE

• VCU took a 41-38 lead on a thunderous fast break dunk by graduate wing Sean Bairstow at the 15:38 mark of the second half, but that proved to be the Rams' last hurrah. Duquesne promptly responded with a 15-2 run, punctuated by a dunk by Fousseyni Drame, to take a 53-44 lead with 9:45 remaining. The Rams could get no closer than six the rest of the way
• Duquesne, which owned a 31-27 halftime lead, shot 48 percent (13-of-27) from the field in the second half, including 6-of-13 from 3-point range
• The Dukes owned a 33-31 rebounding advantage and knocked down 11-of-12 free throw attempts

NOTABLE

• Tuesday's game served as VCU's Senior Day, and graduates Kuany Kuany, Bairstow, as well as Jackson and senior guard Max Shulga were honored prior to the contest
• Shulga, VCU's leading scorer, did not play Tuesday due to back spasms
• VCU's bench supplied 34 points
• VCU leads the all-time series with Duquesne 8-3

NEXT UP
VCU will visit Dayton for its regular season finale on Friday, March 8 at 7 p.m. That game will air on ESPN2