Dukes to Open Cayman Islands Classic vs. South Dakota State

Pittsburgh, Pa. – The Duquesne University men’s basketball team will open play in the 2024 Cayman Islands Classic against South Dakota State with a 1:30 pm tip Sunday, Nov. 24, at John Gray Gymnasium in George Town, Grand Cayman. The contest between the Dukes and Jackrabbits was announced Tuesday as the bracket for the tournament was unveiled by Caymax Sports LTD.

The first game of the tournament tips at 11:00 am, Nov. 24, between Hampton and Boise State. The winner of that game will face the winner between Duquesne and South Dakota State Monday, Nov. Elsewhere in the bracket, Missouri State opens the Cayman Islands Classic at 5:00 pm Sunday, Nov. 25, at 1:30 pm. 24, against High Point, while the final game of the first day of action features Old Dominion and Boston College at 7:30 pm

The Dukes and Jackrabbits have never faced off on the hardwood, with the meeting between the two programs in the first round of the Cayman Islands Classic the first. Duquesne has also never faced Boise State in program history prior to the 2024-25 season.

Of the other five opponents, the Dukes have faced three of them just once and haven’t played any of the five since 2009. Duquesne is 1-5 (.167) all-time against Old Dominion in a series that was last played Dec . 30, 2009, when the Monarchs earned a 63-54 win over the Dukes in Norfolk, Va., at the Constant Center. That contest concluded a home-and-home series between the two programs that began during the 2008-09 season. The season opener for the 2008-09 campaign came Nov. 14, 2008, at the AJ Palumbo Center as the Dukes opened the year with an 84-55 victory over High Point in the only meeting between the two programs in school history.

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Duquesne is also 0-1 all-time against both Hampton (2000) and Missouri State (1997) while owning a record of 5-6 (.455) all-time against Boston College. The Dukes and Eagles haven’t played since Dec. 28, 2006, a 98-93 overtime win for Duquesne at the Conte Forum as Scott Grote hit a three-pointer with eight seconds left to force the extra period and Robert Mitchell scored a team-high 20 points to pace the Dukes. Mitchell buried a trio of free throws with 1:30 to go in overtime to give Duquesne the lead for good, and in a losing effort for Boston College center Sean Williams posted a triple-double with 19 points, 10 rebounds and 13 blocks.

Led by head coach Dru Joyce IIIin his first season leading the Dukes, Duquesne welcomes two starters and nine letterwinners back from a 2023-24 team that posted an overall record of 25-12 (.676), including a mark of 10-8 (.556) in the Atlantic 10. The Dukes claimed the 2024 Atlantic 10 Championship and first automatic bid to the NCAA Championship since 1977, where they claimed their first win in the NCAA Tournament since 1969 thanks to a 71-67 triumph over No. 6 seed BYU.

Returning as starters for Duquesne in 2024-25 are junior forward David Dixon and sophomore guard Jake DiMichele. Dixon played all 37 games last season, averaging 7.2 points and 4.8 rebounds, while DiMichele averaged 6.4 points and 2.5 rebounds in 30 contests.

Deposits for season tickets for the 2024-25 season are now being accepted. Fans wishing to renew, upgrade or purchase season tickets for the first time can use the following link to secure seats for next year. Travel packages for the Cayman Islands Classic are also available by visiting the official travel website or calling 1-877-669-8903.

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