ESPN Men's Basketball

NEW YORK -- Chris Gaston scored 18 points with 10 rebounds, and Branden Frazier added 16 points and a career-high 13 assists as Fordham defeated Duquesne 82-75 Wednesday night in the teams' Atlantic 10 Conference opener.

The Rams (5-11, 1-0) never trailed in the second half after taking a 47-41 halftime lead.

After the Dukes (7-8, 0-1) got to within five points, 72-67, with 5:58 left, Frazier assisted on a jumper by Gaston and a 3-pointer by Bryan Smith to make it 77-67.

Gaston made 9 of 12 shots for Fordham, which shot 53.1 percent (34 of 64) to Duquesne's 37.8 percent (28 of 74) and outrebounded the Dukes 49-34.

Duquesne was able to stay close by committing just five turnovers to Fordham's 16.

Derrick Colter had 17 points and nine assists for Duquesne, which got 13 points from Kadeem Pantophlet and 12 from Sean Johnson.

Fordham's point total matched its season best.