Preview: Richmond Spiders at Duquesne Dukes

PITTSBURGH (Interstat) — Two Atlantic 10 men’s basketball teams seeking momentum before the conference tournament will meet Saturday when the Duquesne Dukes host the Richmond Spiders at A.J. Palumbo Center.

The regular-season finale for both squads features teams with nearly identical records. Duquesne (16-14, 8-9 A-10) enters at .500 in league play, while Richmond (15-15, 7-10) looks to avoid a losing conference slate. The Dukes hold a narrow edge in the standings, but both have struggled recently, each coming off a loss in their last outing.

Richmond fell 65-60 to Dayton on Tuesday, despite 15 points from guard AJ Lopez. The Spiders have lost four of their last five games, with several defeats coming by narrow margins. Lopez has been a consistent bright spot, averaging 17.6 points over his last seven contests. He scored 23 points in a close loss at Loyola Chicago on Feb. 28 and dropped 20 in a 99-94 win over Saint Bonaventure on Feb. 21. Support from players like Mike Walz and Aiden Argabright will be crucial for the Spiders to snap their skid.

Duquesne is also looking to halt a slide, having lost four straight following a three-game winning streak. The Dukes fell 64-52 at Rhode Island on Wednesday. Guard Tarence Guinyard led the team with 18 points in that loss and has been a high-volume scorer during this tough stretch, including a 27-point performance in a loss at Saint Louis on Feb. 28 and another 27-point outing in an 88-86 win over George Washington on Feb. 7. His backcourt battle with Lopez will be a key matchup.

Historically, the series has been competitive, adding intrigue to this final regular-season contest. With seeding for the upcoming Atlantic 10 Tournament in Washington, D.C., on the line, both teams will aim to secure a more favorable bracket position.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST on Saturday, March 7, at the A.J. Palumbo Center on Duquesne’s campus.