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BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Duquesne figured on probably playing without menacing shot-blocker Shawn James until the 6-foot-10 junior, who was dealing with a strained muscle in his back, figured he'd give it try just before game time Wednesday night.

While James, the team's leading rebounder and shot-blocker (57) and second-leading scorer, was limited in his effectiveness, he still managed eight points, four rebounds and three blocks in 20 minutes of the Dukes' 96-78 victory over Bowling Green at Anderson Arena.

"I didn't think he was going to play. He's been struggling," Duquesne coach Ron Everhart said. "I went into the locker room before the game and he was laying there with a heating pad on his back. I said, 'Well, are you going to play?' He looked up at me and said, 'Yeah, I want to play. Please don't sit me. Let me get a chance to get loose.'"

James' presence, albeit not his usual active self around the glass, was a boost to his teammates, said Duquesne freshman Damian Saunders, who contributed nine points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals in 23 minutes as part of Duquesne's balanced attack.

"Knowing Shawn is out there, having him there to alter shots and just attract attention, helps the other guys to do their job," said Saunders, the Atlantic 10 rookie of the week for the third time this season. "We still felt his presence."

Duquesne, which got a season-high 16 steals, improved its record to 10-3 heading into the A-10 schedule, the Dukes' best non-conference showing in nearly 30 years. Duquesne will enjoy a week off before opening A-10 play next Wednesday against visiting Fordham (6-6) at Palumbo Center.

"We've done some real good things, but I've seen opportunities to do more," Everhart said. "For us tonight, though, it was a good feeling to come on the road and get a win at a Mid-American Conference school."

The Dukes continually allowed Bowling Green (5-7) to rally after taking double-digit leads.

In the end, though, their depth wore down the Falcons, whose 96 points allowed were 30 more than their average. Bowling Green was playing its fourth consecutive game without point guard Ryne Hamblet, its leader in assists (5.4 apg) and third-leading scorer (12.6 ppg), because of academic difficulties.

Reggie Jackson led Duquesne with 19 points. Kojo Mensah added 18 and Aaron Jackson and Kieron Achara had 12 apiece. The Dukes converted 32 of 45 free-throw attempts.

Chris Knight's double-double, consisting of 14 points and 14 rebounds, helped Bowling Green stay close for a large portion of the game. Otis Polk led the Falcons with 17 points. Nate Miller (15), Biran Moten (12) and Joe Jakubowski (10) also were in double figures.

"It was pretty much the same script as it's been in a lot of the games we've played," said Reggie Jackson. "We've played some tough teams that have taken their best shots, and Bowling Green was a tough team. They never stopped coming at us."

Duquesne settled for a 36-32 halftime lead after squandering 12-point advantages on three occasions, the last when Bowling Green outscored the Dukes, 8-0, over the final 2:23 of the half.

Duquesne's smothering defense held Bowling Green to single digits for more the half of the first half. The Dukes led, 19-8, before a dunk by Polk, who scored 11 first-half points, cut the lead to 19-10. The Falcons closed within 19-15 on a layup by Jakubowski.

From that point, Duquesne pushed the lead twice to 12 before the Falcons chipped away and cut it to four at the break.

In the second half, Bowling Green closed within 64-60 with 7:33 left on a layup by Brian Moten, but Duquesne regrouped and steadily pulled away, hitting 11 of 14 free throws in the final 1:30 to seal the victory.

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