PITTSBURGH (Interstat) — In a stunning reversal of fortune, the Duquesne Dukes erased a 21-point halftime deficit to stun the Richmond Spiders 79-77 in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game Saturday at A.J. Palumbo Center.

The Atlantic 10 Conference contest, witnessed by 2,522 fans, saw Richmond dominate the first half with blistering shooting, only for Duquesne to mount a relentless second-half comeback fueled by defense, rebounding and clutch free-throw shooting.

The Spiders, who fell to 15-16 overall, appeared in complete control at the break, leading 49-28. They shot a scorching 63.8% from the floor in the opening period, including 9 of 13 from three-point range. The Dukes, meanwhile, struggled mightily, hitting just 28.6% of their shots and 1 of 13 from beyond the arc.

The second half was a different story entirely. Duquesne, now 17-14, flipped the script with aggressive defense that forced 10 Richmond turnovers after halftime, converting them into 18 points. The Dukes also dominated the glass, securing 13 offensive rebounds that led to 15 second-chance points. Most critically, Duquesne lived at the free-throw line, making 17 of 18 attempts, while Richmond attempted only nine.

Richmond’s offensive efficiency, which registered a stellar 119.8 rating for the game on 77 points from just 64 possessions, vanished in the final 20 minutes. The Spiders managed only 28 second-half points on 34.6% shooting as Duquesne’s pressure intensified.

The Dukes’ comeback was a collective effort, spearheaded by Alex Williams of Dayton, Ohio, who scored 22 points, including three crucial three-pointers. David Dixon of Memphis, Tennessee, was a force inside, adding 17 points, two blocks, and multiple key offensive rebounds. Tarence Guinyard of Tampa, Florida, chipped in 16 points, several coming during the decisive final minutes.

Richmond was led by AJ Lopez of Queens, New York, with 15 points, while Will Johnston of Sydney, Australia, and Mikkel Tyne of Toronto, Canada, each scored 14. The Spiders’ ball movement, so crisp in the first half, stagnated after halftime, finishing with only five assists against 16 turnovers.

The game’s crucial sequence came in the final 30 seconds. Trailing 77-75, Duquesne’s defense forced a difficult, blocked shot by Dixon on Richmond’s Jaden Daughtry with 24 seconds left. Dixon secured the defensive rebound and, after a timeout, the Dukes worked for a final shot. A missed three-pointer by Guinyard was followed by Dixon’s game-winning tip-in at the buzzer, capping the dramatic rally.

Statistically, the game was a tale of contrasting strengths. Richmond’s shooting was superior overall (63.8% to 43.8%) and from deep (60% to 20%), but Duquesne’s advantages in offensive rebounds (13-3), turnovers forced (16-9), steals (10-5), and free-throw volume and accuracy proved decisive. The Dukes also dominated points in the paint, 42-26, and points off turnovers, 28-17.

The comeback defied pregame projections, as Duquesne entered as a 5-point favorite with a 75.2% win probability according to Interstat’s ELO system. The total score of 156 points surpassed the over/under line of 149.5.

For Richmond, the crushing loss adds to a season of narrow defeats, with nine of their sixteen losses coming by single digits. Duquesne, conversely, secured a momentum-building victory as the regular season concludes, showcasing the resilience that defined their second-half performance.