NEW YORK (Interstat) — In a game defined by defensive pressure and a decisive advantage from beyond the arc, the Duquesne Dukes secured a 74-63 Atlantic 10 Conference victory over the Fordham Rams on Saturday afternoon at Rose Hill Gym.

The Dukes, who led by three at halftime, used a 44-point second half to pull away and improve to 10-8 overall. Fordham fell to 10-9.

The most critical factor in the contest was a stark disparity in three-point shooting. Duquesne connected on 10 of 24 attempts from long range, a 41.7 percent clip, while Fordham struggled profoundly, making just 4 of 28 for 14.3 percent. This 30-point advantage from the perimeter more than compensated for Fordham’s dominance on the offensive glass, where the Rams hauled in 17 offensive rebounds leading to a 36-22 edge in points in the paint.

Duquesne guard Tarence Guinyard orchestrated the offense effectively, dishing out nine assists to go with 11 points and three steals in 33 minutes. His backcourt mate, Jimmie Williams, provided a game-high 19 points, while Cameron Crawford added 16, including four three-pointers. David Dixon anchored the defense with three blocks.

Fordham was led by DeJour Reaves with 17 points, though he needed 17 shots from the field to reach that total. Akira Jacobs added 13 points and Christian Henry contributed 10, but the Rams’ offense sputtered, managing an offensive rating of just 86.2 points per 100 possessions compared to Duquesne’s 103.0.

The game’s pivotal sequence occurred early in the second half, turning a narrow margin into a comfortable lead for the visitors. Leading 30-27 at the break, Duquesne opened the second period with a 9-1 run over the first four minutes. The surge was fueled by defensive stops and timely shooting. It began with a Guinyard steal on Fordham’s opening possession, leading to a Cameron Crawford three-pointer off a Williams assist. After a Fordham free throw, Williams converted a layup through a foul and made the ensuing free throw. Alex Williams then capped the run with another three-pointer, assisted by Guinyard, pushing the Dukes’ lead to 39-28 with 14:46 remaining.

Fordham never recovered from that stretch. The Rams repeatedly cut the deficit to single digits but could not muster a sustained run, as every potential rally was answered by a Duquesne three-pointer or stifled by a turnover. The Dukes forced 13 Fordham turnovers, converting them into nine steals, and consistently made the Rams work deep into the shot clock for difficult attempts.

Despite being out-rebounded 45-31 overall and allowing numerous second-chance opportunities, Duquesne’s efficiency won the day. The Dukes shot 45.1 percent from the field overall and made enough free throws, hitting 18 of 27, to maintain separation down the stretch. Fordham’s 25-of-70 shooting performance, including its frigid afternoon from deep, proved too large a hurdle to overcome in front of an announced crowd of 1,138.

The victory snapped a two-game losing streak for Duquesne in conference play. Fordham, coming off a road win at Saint Bonaventure, has now lost two of its last three.

According to pregame analytics, Duquesne was projected with a 56.7 percent probability to win as a slight one-point favorite. The combined score of 137 fell well under the over/under line of 147.5.

Duquesne returns to action Tuesday at home against Saint Louis. Fordham travels to face Davidson on Wednesday.