PITTSBURGH (AP) – JeQuan Lewis scored a season-high 16 points and No. 17 Virginia Commonwealth extended its winning streak to 10 games with a 70-64 victory over Duquesne on Saturday.
Melvin Johnson added 14 points for the Ram (15-3, 5-0 Atlantic 10), who won despite missing leading scorer Treveon Graham, who did not play because of an ankle injury.
Lewis helped pick up the slack. The sophomore knocked down three of VCU’s 12 3-pointers.
Derrick Colter led the Dukes (6-10, 1-4) with 14 points, but Duquesne fell to 3-12 all-time at Consol Energy Center. It couldn’t quite overcome a 14-point halftime deficit.
The Dukes drew as close as two on a dunk by Darius Lewis with 2:25 left. But Johnson hit a 3-pointer from the left wing with 57.6 remaining to give the Rams an extended lead.
The Rams have rallied in the last six weeks, responding to a 17-point home loss to No. 2 Virginia by reeling off nine in a row, including a victory at Cincinnati and a 65-60 win at Rhode Island on Tuesday.
Graham went for 26 points and eight rebounds against Rhode Island but also twisted his ankle, though that didn’t stop him from scoring 16 points in the second half.
The Rams appeared to be in control even without Graham, leading by 14 at the break. But Duquesne chipped away. Lewis cooled after a strong start and so did his teammates. VCU shot just 33 percent (9 of 27) in the second half, and Duquesne steadily improved thanks to relentless work on the boards.
Duquesne outrebounded VCU 44-28, outscored the Rams 24-14 in the paint and appeared to have momentum when Darius Lewis hit a hook shot in the lane to make it 64-62 with 2:25 to play. The Dukes had the ball and a chance to take the lead with 1:30 remaining, but Micah Mason committed the 15th of Duquesne’s 16 turnovers, and Johnson made a basket with the shot clock winding down.
Duquesne went in front 15-9 by attacking the glass and chasing down misses. But the lead didn’t last. VCU’s press eventually wore the Dukes down.
The Rams went on an 11-0 run to move back in front and capped the first half with a furious push to lead 40-26. Duquesne gave it away three times in the final 2 minutes, including a bobbled pass by Jordan Stevens right in front of the VCU basket that led to an easy layup by Doug Brooks.
TIP-INS
VCU: The Rams are 5-0 in the A-10 for the first time. VCU last started 5-0 in conference play in 2007 while playing in the Colonial Athletic Association.
Duquesne: The Dukes rebounded somewhat from a 13-of-34 performance at the free-throw line in a loss to Saint Louis on Wednesday. Duquesne went 14 of 22 from the line. The Dukes are shooting just 59 percent from the line on the season.
UP NEXT
VCU: Travels to St. Louis next Friday.
Duquesne: Hosts St. Bonaventure on Thursday.
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