DUQUESNE IS ONE WIN AWAY

ATLANTIC 10 CHAMPIONSHIP
DUQUESNE (21-11) VS. TEMPLE (21-11)
6 PM
TV: ESPN2

Could we have all three Pittsburgh D-1 basketball teams in the NCAA Tournament? The possibility is still on the table after Duquesne qualified for the A-10 Championship after a 77-66 win over Dayton last night in Atlantic City. They'll be taking on defending A-10 tournament champion and No. 4 seed Temple (21-11), and the game will be carried live on ESPN2. Tipoff is at 6 PM.

The Dukes haven't been to the NCAAs since the Norm Nixon days of 1977. They haven't even been to the NIT since 1994. So to say this is a big deal is a huge understatement.

A pair of guards led the way in the victory over Dayton, with senior Aaron Jackson and freshman Melquan Bolding scoring 24 points each. 21 of Bolding's points came via the three-pointer.

Ironically, it's the presence of potential "bid-stealers" like Duquesne and Baylor that might ultimately bump bubble teams like Penn State, which did themselves no favors in losing 79-65 to Purdue in the Big Ten Tourney. It's going to be a tense time gathering around the TV to watch the tournament selection show in Happy Valley tomorrow.

Duquesne advances to Atlantic 10 championship [PG]

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