CHICAGO - The first week of Atlantic 10 action wraps up with the Ramblers and Dukes Saturday afternoon in Gentile Arena. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. as Loyola Chicago looks to improve to 2-0 in the standings and extend its win streak to four straight games.
Saturday's game can watched on CBS Sports Network with Carter Blackburn (PXP) and Avery Johnson (Analyst) or be listened to on the Rambler Sports Network with Scott Sudikoff (PXP) and Christian Thomas (Analyst).
Quick Hits
• The Ramblers made a statement in the Atlantic 10 opener at Saint Louis earlier this week securing an 80-73 win. They led by as much as 18 in the first half and held off the Billikens' second-half rally for their first win vs. SLU since the 1990-91 season.
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Des Watson tied his career-high 24 points and posted his second game above the 20-point mark this year. He previously set the high in the home opener vs. EIU. Watson also grabbed six boards and set a new personal best with four steals.
• Watson's 24 points was the fourth best performance by an A10 player on opening night of league action.
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Braden Norris filled the stat sheet with 10 points, six rebounds, and seven assists. He led the game in helpers and tied as the team-leader in rebounds.
• Norris has now tallied seven assists in four games this season. His average is up to 5.4 assists per game, ranking first in the league and 33rd in the NCAA.
• Off the bench,
Dame Adelekun went 5-for-6 totaling 10 points for his third double-figure scoring effort of the year.
• Adelekun ranks third overall in the league in shooting percentage. He's hitting 63.2 percent of his attempts from the field.
• The Ramblers shot over 50 percent from the field for the fourth time this year.
• Head coach
Drew Valentine is in his third season at the helm. He holds a 44-34 overall career record.
Scouting Duquesne
The Dukes are 9-4 overall and 0-1 in A10 play after falling to UMass in the league opener. Duquesne finished an impressive non-conference slate at 9-3, winning five of its last six to close that portion of the schedule. They capped the 2023 calendar year with a 95-47 win over Cleary on Dec. 30.
Dae Dae Grant leads the Dukes averaging 19.0 points per game. He is the A10's active leading scorer with 1.929 career points over five seasons. Grant had a 32-point outing vs. Santa Clara finishing with seven three-pointers. He's scored at least 20 points in five games this season.
In his seventh season as head coach of the Dukes, Keith Dambrot holds a 100-88 overall record.
Series History
Duquesne leads the all-time series, 12-6. The Dukes stole the lone meeting last year, 72-58. Alston led all-scorers with 25 points (8-15 FG, 5-10 3PT, 4-6 FT).
