Duquesne Men’s Basketball Falls to South Dakota State in Cayman Islands Classic Opener

The Duquesne University men’s basketball team suffered a 71-60 loss to South Dakota State in the opening game of the 2024 Cayman Islands Classic held at John Gray Gymnasium in George Town, Grand Cayman. This defeat drops the Dukes to 0-5 for the 2024-25 season.

The game was closely contested, featuring nine ties and 10 lead changes. Duquesne took a 39-33 lead early in the second half, but South Dakota State tied the game at 43-43 after a three-pointer by Kalen Garry. The decisive moment came when redshirt junior guard Maximus Edwards gave Duquesne a 51-49 lead with a three-pointer, only for the Jackrabbits to respond with a 13-0 run led by Oscar Cluff, who scored eight points during this stretch. This run pushed South Dakota State ahead 62-51 with 5:14 remaining in the game.

Kalen Garry of South Dakota State led all scorers with 20 points, going 5-for-7 from three and 7-of-10 from the field. He also added four assists but committed five turnovers. For Duquesne, senior guard Tre Dinkins III led the team with 19 points, three assists, and two steals. The Dukes launched 38 shots from downtown, their highest total since 2015, but managed to convert only a portion of them.

Oscar Cluff, who averages a double-double for the Jackrabbits, contributed significantly with 17 points and 11 rebounds. The game saw several key performances, including a season-high nine steals for Duquesne as a team. Despite the loss, Duquesne held a 17-9 edge in points off turnovers, forcing South Dakota State into 16 miscues.

Duquesne will face Hampton on Monday, November 25, at 11:00 a.m. in their second game of the Cayman Islands Classic. Hampton previously lost to Boise State 83-69 in the tournament.