Duquesne’s final nonconference basketball game came and went Saturday at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse without a glimpse of the Dukes’ second-leading scorer and rebounder for a third consecutive game.

John Hugley IV, where are you?

In what could be perceived as a continuation of a troubling pattern in Hugley’s college career — the 6-foot-10, 265-pound senior was benched two weeks ago by coach Dru Joyce III and hasn’t been with the team since — Duquesne calmly continued the business of preparing for its Atlantic 10 opener Tuesday night at Davidson by dominating NAIA opponent Cleary, 99-49.

Jimmie Williams scored 16 points to lead the Dukes, who nearly topped the century mark for a second consecutive time and third this season in one of just three Division I games during an unusually light Saturday schedule.

Jakub Necas added 11 points and 10 rebounds, Jake DiMichele and Stef van Bussel also scored 11 points each and David Dixon scored 10 for the Dukes, who rolled past Canisius, 103-59, on Monday and defeated Division II Central State (Ohio), 101-80, on Nov. 26, both at “The Coop.”

Now, the games take on more meaning.

Duquesne (8-5), picked to finish ninth in the A-10, is set to open conference play this week at Davidson’s Belk Arena with Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry, arguably the Wildcats’ most famous alum, expected to be on hand.

Hugley, who is averaging 15.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, is in his first season at Duquesne. The former Pitt star, whose career has been derailed by personal, legal and injury matters, was not in uniform for the Dukes’ 78-75 loss at Nevada on Dec. 13, and he was not on the Dukes bench the past two games, though he remains listed on the team’s roster.

Joyce, in his second season as Duquesne’s coach, has said only that Hugley’s absence is the result of a “coach’s decision.”

Hugley, who played three seasons at Pitt and one each at Oklahoma and Xavier before coming to Duquesne, told TribLive in July that he was excited to join the Dukes.

“I love Pittsburgh. This is a second home for me,” Hugley said. “It’s just like my home in Cleveland. I want to come here to live one day. … Just happy to be here.”

Joyce, who was raised nearby in Akron, Ohio, welcomed Hugley to The Bluff, when he arrived this summer.

“It’s huge having John here. His experience is something I can’t take credit for,” Joyce told TribLive at the time. “He’s seen basketball at some high levels. He’s been coached by some great ones: Jeff Capel (Pitt), Porter Moser (Oklahoma), Sean Miller (Xavier). These guys have coached deep into March Madness. They’ve had No. 1-ranked teams at times. He comes from that stock of seeing basketball played at a high level, and it does wonders for our team.”