Duquesne Men's Basketball Riding High After Thrilling Win

Dukes notch third victory in seven days, showing growth on both ends of the floor

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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Duquesne Men's Basketball Coach Dru Joyce III praised his team's defensive effort and poise in a narrow 88-86 victory over George Washington, the Dukes' third win in seven days. The team has shown significant growth since earlier in the Atlantic 10 slate, learning from past mistakes and embracing a defensive identity led by point guard Tarence Guinyard. Several role players like Alex Williams and Stef van Bussel have also stepped up, providing a boost off the bench.

Why it matters

Duquesne's recent surge comes after a slow start in conference play, and mirrors the team's trajectory from the 2023-24 season when they ultimately earned an NCAA Tournament berth. The Dukes are proving they can win close games at home, a key hurdle they struggled with earlier this year, and are developing the defensive mindset and balanced scoring that fueled their previous postseason run.

The details

In the win over GW, Duquesne overcame the Colonials' hot shooting from three-point range by forcing 16 turnovers and getting key defensive stops down the stretch. Guinyard led the way offensively with 27 points, while role players like Williams and van Bussel provided valuable minutes off the bench. The Dukes were out-rebounded by 13 but got a crucial late board from Jakub Necas to secure the victory.

  • Duquesne notched its third win in seven days on February 4, 2026.
  • The Dukes will look to build on this victory when they host St. Bonaventure on February 11, 2026, seeking redemption for an earlier loss.

The players

Dru Joyce III

Duquesne Men's Basketball head coach who praised his team's defensive effort and poise in the win over George Washington.

Tarence Guinyard

Duquesne's starting point guard who scored 27 points, including 16 in a row, to help the Dukes take control late in the game.

Alex Williams

Duquesne player who had a career game, providing a boost off the bench with his strong play.

Stef van Bussel

Duquesne player who earned valuable minutes off the bench, showcasing his practice habits and earning the trust of the coaching staff.

Jakub Necas

Duquesne player who grabbed a crucial late rebound to help secure the victory over George Washington.

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What they’re saying

“We played a team that we probably gave a couple of open ones too early, so they got it going. It was a battle to try to stop the penetration, drives and kicks. I thought we handled ourselves the right way. We focused in on the defensive end.”

— Dru Joyce III, Duquesne Men's Basketball Head Coach (on3.com)

“The crowd was great and they definitely brought a lot of energy to the gym. There were certain points in time where we fed off their energy. We just kept going, kept scoring, we were hot and they were picking us up.”

— Jimmie Williams, Duquesne Junior Guard (on3.com)

What’s next

Duquesne will look to build on this victory when they host St. Bonaventure on February 11, 2026, seeking redemption for an earlier loss to the Bonnies.

The takeaway

Duquesne's recent surge, mirroring their 2023-24 NCAA Tournament team, shows the Dukes have learned from past mistakes and are developing the defensive identity and balanced scoring needed to compete at a high level in the Atlantic 10. Their ability to win close games at home is a key step forward as they aim to return to the Big Dance.