FAIRFAX, Va. (Interstat) — In a stunning upset that defied both the odds and the Atlantic 10 standings, the Duquesne Dukes went on the road and ground out a 71-65 victory over the George Mason Patriots on Wednesday night at EagleBank Arena.

The Dukes, improving to 13-10, used a stifling defensive effort and clutch free-throw shooting down the stretch to hand the Patriots just their third loss of the season, dropping George Mason to 20-3. The Patriots had entered the contest as heavy favorites, projected with nearly a 90% win probability and installed as 7.5-point favorites, but were undone by a season-high 15 turnovers and a profound disparity in ball movement.

The most critical phase of the game unfolded in the final 90 seconds. With Duquesne clinging to a 66-65 lead after George Mason’s Riley Allenspach converted inside, the Dukes’ defense forced a pivotal shot-clock violation with just over a minute remaining. On the ensuing possession, Brandon Hall sank a crucial 3-pointer from the wing, pushing the lead to 69-65 with 1:33 to play.

George Mason, unable to find an answer, committed two more costly turnovers in the closing minute. Duquesne’s Alex Williams, a 6-foot-5 guard from Dayton, Ohio, then sealed the victory at the free-throw line, calmly sinking four consecutive attempts in the final 14 seconds to provide the final margin. Williams finished with a game-high 25 points, including a perfect 8-for-8 from the charity stripe, with 13 of his points coming in the second half.

The game was ultimately decided by Duquesne’s defensive pressure and offensive efficiency. The Dukes forced 15 George Mason turnovers, converting them into 25 points, while committing only nine turnovers themselves. A staggering statistical discrepancy told the story: Duquesne recorded 13 assists and 13 steals, while George Mason managed just two assists and two steals all night.

Despite shooting a slightly lower percentage from the field (44.4% to George Mason’s 49.0%), Duquesne attempted 12 more shots, a direct result of their plus-six turnover margin and nine offensive rebounds. The Dukes also capitalized at the free-throw line, making 16 of 21 attempts compared to the Patriots’ 8-of-15 performance.

Duquesne established control early, building a 33-27 halftime lead behind Williams’ 12 first-half points. The Dukes’ defense held George Mason’s offense in check for long stretches, and the Patriots never led after the 18:13 mark of the first half. Whenever George Mason threatened in the second half, Duquesne had an answer, often from Williams or David Dixon.

Dixon, a 6-foot-9 forward from Memphis, Tennessee, provided a vital interior presence with 13 points, two blocks, and several key rebounds in 31 minutes. Jimmie Williams added 13 points and three assists for the Dukes.

George Mason was led by Riley Allenspach, the 6-foot-11 center from Charlotte, North Carolina, who scored 18 points. Guard Jahari Long of Houston contributed 17 points and three assists, while Kory Mincy added 10 points. The Patriots’ offense, however, looked uncharacteristically stagnant, evidenced by the mere two assists as a team.

The victory marks a significant resume-building win for Duquesne, which had alternated wins and losses in its previous six games. For George Mason, a team that had been rolling through its conference schedule with a 9-2 A-10 record, the loss serves as a stark reminder of the conference’s nightly challenges, particularly when ball security and offensive flow abandon them.

Duquesne looks to build on the momentum when it hosts George Washington on Saturday. George Mason will aim to regroup at home against Saint Joseph’s, also on Saturday.

The announced attendance was 3,108.