Marcus Weathers scored 14 of his career-high 21 points in the second half as Duquesne beat Austin Peay, 86-77, in the first round of the St. Pete Shootout Saturday in St. Petersburg, Fla.

The Dukes (10-0), who went 30 of 34 from the free-throw line and shot 51% from the field, are off to their best start since the 1953-54 season. Sincere Carry added 16 points, including 14 in the first half, for Duquesne. Austin Peay dropped to 5-6.

Sid Dambrot, father of Dukes coach Keith Dambrot, was a guard on the 1953-54 team that reached No. 1 in The Associated Press poll in February of that season. Duquesne entered the day as one of four unbeaten Division I teams.

Other men’s game

West Virginia 75, Youngstown State 64: Oscar Tshiebwe scored 19 points and Derek Culver added 15 as the No. 25 Mountaineers (10-1) overcame the scrappy host Penguins (7-6).

Women

Cincinnati 69, Pitt 53: The Panthers (3-8) closed to within 54-46 early in the fourth quarter before the host Bearcats (8-4) put the game away. Freshman Amber Brown led Pitt with 12 points.

West Virginia 63, Michigan State 57: Kari Niblack scored a career-high 21 points to lead the No. 22 Mountaineers (8-1) past the 19th-ranked Spartans (7-4) in the Florida Sunshine Classic in Orlando, Fla.

First Published: December 22, 2019, 12:59 a.m.