KINGSTON, R.I. (AP) Ovie Soko scored 19 points and grabbed 12 rebounds while L.G. Gill added 19 points as Duquesne took down Rhode Island 83-71 Saturday.
Duquesne (11-13, 3-8 Atlantic 10) jumped to a 42-34 halftime lead behind 15 first-half points from Soko and held off Rhode Island (11-15, 2-9) in the second half.
The Rams cut the lead to 47-43 early in the second half, as E.C. Matthews scored the first nine points of the half for Rhode Island. The Dukes responded with an 8-2 run, before the Rams came within 55-51 on a Hassan Martin dunk. That was as close as Rhode Island would get as Gill helped Duquesne pull away, scoring eight points in a span of just over 2 minutes to put Duquesne up 70-60.
Matthews led Rhode Island with a career-high 32 points on 11-of-15 shooting. Xavier Munford added 16 points. Martin had nine points and 10 rebounds.
