PITTSBURGH (Interstat) — In a high-octane offensive showcase, the Duquesne Dukes used a potent inside game and superior transition offense to outlast the Sacred Heart Pioneers 92-80 in a non-conference men’s basketball game Friday night at the A.J. Palumbo Center.

A crowd of 2,112 watched as the Dukes improved to 2-0 on the young season, while the Pioneers evened their record at 1-1.

The game was a tale of two dynamic duos. For Duquesne, the backcourt and frontcourt combination of Tarence Guinyard and John Hugley proved overwhelming. Guinyard, a 6-foot-2 guard from Tampa, Florida, orchestrated the offense with 25 points and seven assists in 36 minutes of action. Hugley, a 6-foot-10, 265-pound force from Cleveland, Ohio, matched Guinyard’s scoring output with 25 points of his own, dominating the paint.

Sacred Heart was led by Nyle Ralph-Beyer, a 6-foot-4 guard from West Chester, Pennsylvania, who scored 17 points. Dashon Gittens of Hartford, Connecticut, added 16 points, and Anquan Hill of Philadelphia contributed 13 points off the bench.

The Dukes set the tone early, establishing control with a 45-42 halftime lead. The game opened with a flurry of action, including an early technical foul on Sacred Heart’s Mekhi Conner. Duquesne capitalized, with Guinyard draining a 3-pointer on the opening possession and Hugley throwing down a powerful dunk off a Guinyard assist to build an early advantage.

Sacred Heart hung tough throughout the first half, with Ralph-Beyer connecting on multiple 3-pointers and Gittens attacking the rim. The Pioneers’ Abdou Yadd, from Dakar, Senegal, provided a spark with nine points, but Duquesne’s efficiency in key areas kept them in front.

Duquesne’s strengths were evident in the final statistics. They outscored Sacred Heart 38-28 in the paint, showcasing Hugley’s interior presence. The Dukes also capitalized on their speed, outrunning the Pioneers 25-18 in fastbreak points. Their defense created opportunities, leading to 11 points off turnovers compared to Sacred Heart’s nine.

The second half saw Duquesne methodically extend its lead. A 3-pointer from Cameron Crawford, who finished with nine points, early in the period pushed the advantage to double digits. While Sacred Heart’s Hill scored inside and Ralph-Beyer continued to find ways to score, the Pioneers could not string together enough stops to mount a sustained comeback.

Every time Sacred Heart threatened, Duquesne had an answer, often from Guinyard or Hugley. Maximus Edwards of Stratford, Connecticut, provided valuable support for the Dukes with 10 points and three assists, while Jimmie Williams of Solon, Ohio, chipped in 13 points.

For Sacred Heart, Taj Bryant of Queens, New York, facilitated the offense with eight points and three assists before fouling out late in the game.

The victory extends Duquesne’s early-season momentum following their opening win over Niagara. Sacred Heart, which opened its season with a decisive victory over Merchant Marine, will look to rebound in its next contest.

Duquesne is scheduled to host Queens (N.C.) on Tuesday, while Sacred Heart travels to face Villanova the same night.