PITTSBURGH (Interstat) — A potent offensive display and a dominant opening run by Duquesne proved too much for Loyola Maryland to overcome Wednesday night as the Dukes secured a 92-78 victory in a non-conference men’s basketball game at the A.J. Palumbo Center.

In front of an announced crowd of 2,135, the Dukes improved to 4-1 on the young season, while the Greyhounds fell to 2-4.

Duquesne set the tone immediately, winning the opening tip and scoring the game’s first 11 points before Loyola Maryland could get on the board. The Dukes’ early surge was fueled by the inside-outside combination of John Hugley and Tarence Guinyard. Hugley, a 6-foot-10 forward from Cleveland, was a force in the paint, scoring 20 points, while Guinyard, a 6-foot-2 guard from Tampa, orchestrated the offense with 19 points and six assists.

The Dukes maintained control throughout the first half, shooting a blistering 54.5 percent from the field and building a lead that grew as large as 19 points. They took a 47-36 advantage into halftime, largely by capitalizing on second-chance opportunities, out-rebounding the Greyhounds 10-5 on the offensive glass in the opening period.

Loyola Maryland refused to capitulate, however, and mounted a spirited challenge in the second half. The Greyhounds chipped away at the deficit, cutting it to single digits on multiple occasions, largely behind the scoring of Jacob Theodosiou. The 6-foot-4 guard from Waterloo, Canada, poured in a game-high 21 points and dished out four assists, leading the visitors’ offensive charge.

Each time the Greyhounds threatened, the Dukes had an answer, often from Cameron Crawford. The 6-foot-5 guard from Hoover, Alabama, matched Guinyard’s 19 points, providing crucial baskets to stifle Loyola Maryland’s momentum. His backcourt mate, Jimmie Williams from Solon, Ohio, added eight points and four assists.

Despite the loss, Loyola Maryland showed resilience, outscoring Duquesne in the second half 42-45. Braeden Speed, a 6-foot-3 guard from Phoenix, contributed 11 points and five assists for the Greyhounds, while frontcourt players Jonas Sirtautas of Kaunas, Lithuania, and Emmett Adair of Sydney, Australia, each added 10 and 11 points, respectively.

The game was ultimately decided by efficiency and ball security. Duquesne posted an offensive rating of 118.9, scoring 92 points on 77 possessions, while Loyola Maryland managed a 104.0 rating with 78 points on 75 trips. The Dukes also shot more effectively from the floor, connecting on 32 of 58 attempts (55.2 percent) compared to the Greyhounds’ 28 of 58 (48.3 percent).

Duquesne’s ability to get to the free-throw line and convert was another key factor, as they made 20 of 26 attempts, while Loyola Maryland hit 13 of 21. The Dukes also won the turnover battle, committing 17 giveaways to Loyola Maryland’s 12, but the Greyhounds could only convert those into a narrow 19-18 edge in points off turnovers.

David Dixon, a 6-foot-9 forward from Memphis, provided a valuable spark off the bench for Duquesne with 10 points and two assists, and Jakub Necas of the Czech Republic chipped in seven points and a game-high 10 rebounds.

The victory keeps Duquesne undefeated at home this season, while Loyola Maryland continues a challenging early-season stretch. The Greyhounds look to rebound on the road against Kentucky on Friday. Duquesne returns to action at home on Saturday against Northeastern in a game scheduled to be played in Akron, Ohio.