CHICAGO (Interstat) — Tarence Guinyard scored 23 points and Duquesne used a dominant defensive performance to pull away from Loyola Chicago for a 71-59 victory in Atlantic 10 Conference men’s basketball on Saturday at Joseph Gentile Center.

The Dukes held the Ramblers to 37.7% shooting from the field and a frigid 5-for-26 effort from 3-point range, while forcing 10 turnovers that led to 11 points. Duquesne improved to 11-9 overall, while Loyola Chicago dropped to 5-16.

Guinyard, a guard from Tampa, Florida, was the catalyst throughout, adding four assists in 34 minutes. His backcourt partner, Jimmie Williams of Solon, Ohio, provided 16 points, three assists and a block. The duo combined to shoot 7 for 14 from beyond the arc, providing the offensive spacing that Loyola Chicago consistently lacked.

The most important stretch of the game came early in the second half, when Duquesne transformed a narrow six-point halftime lead into a commanding advantage. Leading 34-28 at the break, the Dukes opened the second period with a decisive 15-6 run over the first 5 minutes and 41 seconds. The surge was fueled by stifling defense and efficient offense.

After Loyola’s Nicolus Anderson opened the half with a dunk, Duquesne’s defense locked in. The Ramblers missed four of their next five shots and committed two turnovers during the pivotal stretch. Meanwhile, the Dukes found their rhythm. Jakub Necas, a 6-foot-8 forward from the Czech Republic, hit a 3-pointer and a layup, the latter off a steal by Williams. Williams then capped the run with a fast-break dunk off an assist from Guinyard, pushing the lead to 49-34 with 14:19 remaining.

Loyola Chicago never recovered. The Ramblers struggled to generate consistent offense outside of forward Xavier Amos, who led the team with 12 points. The home team managed just four fast-break points and was outscored 12-4 in that category, underscoring Duquesne’s control of the game’s tempo.

Duquesne’s interior defense, led by David Dixon with three blocks and Jakub Necas with one, altered numerous shots, holding Loyola to just 28 points in the paint despite 34 attempts near the rim. Miles Rubin, Loyola’s 6-foot-10 center from Chicago, was limited to seven points, though he contributed four assists and two blocks.

The Dukes also won the battle of efficiency. They scored 102.2 points per 100 possessions compared to the Ramblers’ 89.4, thanks in part to a 10-for-26 performance from 3-point range against Loyola’s 5-for-26. Duquesne also capitalized at the free-throw line, making 15 of 22 attempts.

Loyola Chicago made a late push, cutting a 20-point deficit down to 12 in the final minute after a 3-pointer from reserve Zachary Royster, but the outcome had long been decided. Deywilk Tavarez added nine points and five assists for the Ramblers, while Joshua Ola-Joseph had eight points and three assists.

For Duquesne, Necas finished with nine points and Maximus Edwards provided six points off the bench. The Dukes shared the ball effectively with seven assists on 23 made field goals and committed only 10 turnovers.

The game, played before an announced crowd of 2,737, saw Duquesne lead for over 38 minutes. The victory marked a bounce-back for the Dukes after a narrow home loss to Saint Louis earlier in the week.

Duquesne next hosts Saint Bonaventure on Wednesday. Loyola Chicago will look to end its skid when it hosts Saint Joseph’s on Tuesday.