PITTSBURGH (Interstat) — Darryl Simmons scored 31 points and Saint Bonaventure used a dominant second-half offensive performance to overcome a halftime deficit and defeat Duquesne 87-79 in an Atlantic 10 Conference men’s basketball game Wednesday night at A.J. Palumbo Center.

The Bonnies, who trailed by four at the break, erupted for 52 points after halftime, shooting a blistering 62% from the field to pull away from the Dukes. The victory improved Saint Bonaventure to 13-8 overall, while Duquesne fell to 11-10.

The most important part of the game was Saint Bonaventure’s clinical offensive efficiency in the second half, which completely flipped the momentum. After a back-and-forth first half that saw Duquesne lead 39-35, the Bonnies opened the final period on a 15-6 run to seize control. They never trailed again, methodically extending their lead by scoring on 12 of their first 13 possessions of the half. The Bonnies finished the game with an offensive rating of 127.3, scoring 1.27 points per possession, a mark of elite efficiency that the Dukes’ defense could not counter.

Simmons, a 5-foot-10 guard from Detroit, was the catalyst, playing all 40 minutes and hitting key shots whenever Duquesne threatened to close the gap. He was supported by Dasonte Bowen, who added 19 points and six assists. The Bonnies’ interior defense also played a pivotal role, recording six blocks, led by Joseph Grahovac with three and Andrew Osasuyi with two.

Duquesne was led by Tarence Guinyard, who posted a double-double with 12 points and 12 assists. David Dixon scored 12 points and Jimmie Williams added 11 for the Dukes, who shot just 43.8% from the field and a costly 54.5% from the free-throw line.

Despite being outrebounded on the offensive glass 12-4, Saint Bonaventure’s superior shooting made the difference. The Bonnies hit 55.8% of their field goals overall and went 21 for 26 from the foul line. Duquesne, which entered the game as a 3.5-point favorite according to sportsbooks, connected on 11 three-pointers but could not keep pace with the Bonnies’ consistent scoring barrage in the second half.

The game’s total of 166 points surpassed the over/under line of 155.5.

Saint Bonaventure returns home to face George Mason on Saturday. Duquesne hosts Rhode Island on Sunday.