PITTSBURGH, Pa.- Duquesne used their inside game to muscle past Savannah State 58-44 in the Chuck Cooper Classic played before 2,780 fans at the Palumbo Center.

The Dukes out-scored SSU 34-14 inside the paint.

After shooting 37 percent from the floor in the first half, Duquesne hit 11 of 19 shots in the second period and ended the game with a 45.7 shooting percentage. Savannah State shot 36 percent from the floor.

Both teams were cold from the free throw line with SSU going 55.6 percent and the Dukes 54.5 percent.

The Dukes jumped out to a 10-1 lead and Savannah State did not hit their first field goal until the 15:57 mark when Rashad Hassan made a jumper.

A jumper by Cedric Smith cut SSU's deficit to 19-10 with 9:41 left. The Tigers did not hit another field goal until Louis Arnold made a jumper with 1:09 remaining for the last points of the half.

Duquesne led 27-13 at intermission.

A jumper and a 3-pointer from Preston Blackmon to start the second half put the Tigers back with nine but Duquesne answered with 12 unanswered points to build a 39-18 lead with 15:25 on the clock.

A dunk by Rod Mitchell and a layup from Glen Izevbigie cut the Dukes lead to 17 but with 8:15 remaining Duquesne built their lead to 22 points.

Savannah State rallied with a 13-2 run to pull with 11 with 1:56 left but that would be as close as they would get.

Smith had 9 points for SSU (4-5) while Arnold had 8 points and 10 rebounds. Blackmon dished out 7 assists to go with his 7 points.

Eric Evans led the Dukes (6-2) with 17 points.

The SSU bench players out-scored the Duquesne reserves 20-7.