GAME NOTES: George Washington will try to remain unbeaten at home this season, as the Colonials take on the Duquesne Dukes in Atlantic 10 Conference action on Saturday afternoon from the Smith Center.

GW is 8-0 in its own building this season and carries a 10-game home win streak into this contest. The Colonials are coming off a 79-59 road win over Fordham on Thursday, marking their third consecutive victory.

Duquesne is headed in the opposite direction with four straight losses, the latest being a 100-97 overtime setback at home against St. Bonaventure on Thursday.

The Colonials hold a 45-27 lead in the all-time series and have captured the last three meetings.

John Kopriva scored 19 points on a perfect 7-of-7 shooting performance to lead GW to its recent win. Patricio Garino netted 16 points and pulled down eight rebounds. Kethan Savage chipped in with 14 points, and both Kevin Larsen and Joe McDonald added 11 points. George Washington used an exceptionally strong first half to power to a 41-27 lead at intermission. The Colonials hit 70.8 percent of their field goal attempts in the frame.

GW enters this game ranked 31st in the nation in scoring defense, allowing an average of 59.4 ppg. Garino (13.3 ppg) leads three players in double figures. Savage (12.2 ppg), Larsen (11.4 ppg, 7.3 rpg) and McDonald (9.4 ppg) are the next three top offensive performers. Garino and Savage have struggled to hit a combined 18-of-69 from 3-point range (.261). Garino, though, is shooting 53.3 percent overall from the field and Larsen checks in at 50.6 percent. The Colonials score 69.3 ppg.

Micah Mason netted 18 points to pace Duquesne (6-11, 1-5) in its latest venture. Derrick Colter added 17 points, while TySean Powell, L.G. Gill and Jordan Stevens all added 13 points off the bench in what turned out to be a loss to the Bonnies. Dominique McKoy collected 12 points and eight rebounds.

Duquesne's starting backcourt of Colter (12.8 ppg) and Mason (11.0 ppg) is shooting a combined 46.8 percent from 3-point range. They have a combined 38 assists and 14 turnovers in A-10 play. Stevens (9.8 ppg) and Powell (8.8 ppg) are part of a team that is averaging 72.5 ppg, which is third-best in the conference.

A win in this game would give the Colonials their best start to conference play since beginning 6-1 to open the 2006-07 campaign. GW went on to win the A-10 championship that season. This is the 500th career game for Duquesne head coach Jim Ferry, but it won't end on a winning note.