Despite multiple problems with the game and shot clocks in the first half, SLU Men’s Basketball pulled off an 87-81 win over Duquesne on Saturday, Feb. 11 at Chaifetz Arena.

SLU started their regular five: junior guard Aaron Hines, junior guard Davell Roby, senior guard Mike Crawford, freshman forward Jalen Johnson and freshman forward Elliott Welmer.

SLU won the tip and got to work early. Hines hit a pair of free thows and a trey in the first two minutes. Duquesne answered with a trey of their own, but were called for goaltending (Welmer basket). Both teams were unable to score for the next minute until Duquesne hit a pair of free throws and SLU went on a 9-2 run, ignited by a Johnson trey, which put SLU up 16-7 with 15:31 left in the first.

SLU took their largest lead of the night with 12:29 to play. Crawford hit two treys, while Johnson and senior forward Reggie Agbeko each contributed a layup. SLU led 26-12.

Duquesne battled back with a 6-2 run to tighten the lead to 28-20 SLU with 9:13 to play. At that point, there was a five-minute stop in play while officials reviewed the game clock.

Coming out of the review, Duquesne closed the lead further to six, but SLU continued to trade baskets with the Dukes for the rest of the half. SLU took a 43-37 lead to the locker room at halftime.

SLU got the ball to start the second half, and Welmer immediately hit a layup. Duquesne answered back with a layup of their own, and the teams immediately traded baskets until a free throw by freshman forward Zeke Moore ignited a 5-0 SLU rally that put the Billikens up by 11 with 13:15 to play.

Duquesne started chipping away at this lead, capitalizing off turnovers by SLU. SLU’s lead dropped to four with 7:14 left, and the teams traded baskets again.