DURHAM, N.C. — Senior Gabriel Cucalon picked up his first win of the season to highlight play for host North Carolina Central University in a 4-1 non-conference men's tennis loss to Duquesne University on a chilly Thursday afternoon at the NCCU Tennis Courts.
 
Cucalon dispatched the Dukes' top player in senior Chris Corrao by a 6-2, 6-3 score. The triumph was the first of the season for the two-time All-MEAC honoree.
 
Freshman Amit Baran was within grasp of picking up his first collegiate dual-match win for the Eagles when his No. 2 singles match was stopped because the visitors had secured the team victory. Baran was leading senior Drew Akins by a 6-3, 6-6 score when play was halted.
 
Duquesne (6-7 Overall) started the contest with 6-0 and 6-2 doubles wins on courts one and two, respectively. Baran and junior Pablo Juez Torres were playing in the tightest doubles match for the Eagles, narrowly trailing senior Dane Bendel and sophomore Alejandro Rodriguez-Vidal 5-4 when doubles play was stopped after DU took the initial team point.
 
A pair of straight set wins by No. 3 sophomore Alex Mascioli and junior No. 4 Jared Isaacs inched the Dukes closer to the road win before NCCU was unable to send out its sixth-positioned competitor to end the match in favor of Duquesne.  
 
NC Central (0-5) next hosts Longwood University in a rescheduled match on Friday at 2 p.m.