GAME NOTES: Penn State brings a six-game winning streak into Wednesday's non- conference matchup against Duquesne and looks to continue its best start to a season in 14 years.

The Nittany Lions have won eight of their first nine contests, including their last six. Their only unsuccessful outing of the campaign was a 106-97 double- overtime loss to Charlotte in the Charleston Classic back on Nov. 20.

They have since rattled off six wins in a row, though every win has come by eight points or less. The latest close affair was a 73-69 triumph at Marshall last Saturday.

D.J. Newbill continued his productive season with 17 points and made the game- sealing free throws in the closing seconds. Brandon Taylor and John Johnson also netted 17 points apiece, while Ross Travis led all players on the glass with nine rebounds.

Newbill has carried PSU's offense at a 23.3 ppg clip -- good for third in the nation and first in the Big Ten. The senior guard also leads the team in assists (27), steals (14) and ranks third in rebounds at 5.6 rpg.

Taylor and Shep Garner contribute 10.8 and 10.2 ppg, respectively for an offense that is averaging 74.0 ppg on a respectable .439 shooting percentage.

Duquesne is coming off a 76-62 loss to cross-town rival Pittsburgh last Friday in just their fifth game of the season.

Jordan Stevens and Tysean Powell led the Dukes with 15 points each, followed by Derrick Colter with 13 as he knocked down all three of his 3-point tries.

The Dukes dug themselves a 12-point halftime deficit and could not dig out of it. They were outrebounded by a 45-37 margin and outscored at the free throw line, 20-11.

Duquesne boasts strong offensive numbers, particularly from the perimeter, but those are a bit skewed due to their wins over the likes of Bluefield State, Abilene Christian and Howard.

The easy slate allowed the Dukes to enter the week with the best 3-point field goal percentage (.458) in the country, with Colter's 64.0 percent on 16-of-25 efficiency leading all Division I players.

Colter, at 11.8 ppg, is one of four Dukes averaging double digits, with Stevens leading the way at 16.8 ppg.

Penn State has not started a season 9-1 since the 2000-01 campaign, and the Lions have won nine in a row at home against the Dukes. They should make it 10 with Newbill doing most of the damage.