PITTSBURGH -- Joe Sherburne and Jarius Lyles scored 16 points apiece and UMBC used a big first-half run to pull away from Duquesne and win 81-72 on Wednesday night for its best start since 2000-01.

Will Darley scored 10 of his 13 points in the first half and the Retrievers (5-1) led 52-43 at halftime after Jourdan Grant's 3-pointer sparked an 11-2 run. UMBC shot 58.8 percent from the field (20 of 34) in the first half and 8 of 15 from long distance (53.3 percent).

Rodney Elliott hit a 3-pointer off a fast break and UMBC led 64-51 with 14:39 to go in the second half and led by as many as 16 points. Eliiott finished with 11 points.

Sherburne made 4 of 4 3-pointers and the Retrievers shot 12 of 23 from beyond the arc (52.2 percent)

Rene Caster scored 15 points for Duquesne (3-5). Emile Blackman added 12 points and needs six more to reach 1,000 for his career.