The Sports Xchange
Dec 2, 2017
DURHAM, N.C. -- Grayson Allen scored 19 of his 25 points in the first half as top-ranked Duke made a rousing return home in a 96-80 whipping of South Dakota on Saturday afternoon at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
After a whirlwind opening three weeks of the schedule, the Blue Devils looked comfortable in their first home game since Nov. 20.
Marvin Bagley III poured in 19 points to go with 12 rebounds for the Blue Devils (10-0), who played a home game for the first time in five games. Bagley, a freshman forward, has double-doubles in eight games.
Trevon Duval's 14 points and Javin DeLaurier's 13 points also bolstered the Blue Devils, who've reached the 85-point mark in all except one game this season.
Duke, which became the country's first 10-game winner this season, trailed in the second half in each of its previous four games. This went much smoother from the outset with a crisp first half of offense.
It took the Blue Devils less than 17 minutes to build a 28-point lead.
Duke shot 62.2 percent from the field in the first half to take a 56-30 lead at the break. The Blue Devils had twice as many rebounds (26-13) by halftime.
Duke missed only 14 first-half shots, yet tracked down rebounds on nine of those.
In the second half, the Blue Devils committed 14 of their 19 turnovers.
South Dakota forward Tyler Hagedorn and reserve forward Nick Fuller each scored 16 points. Matt Mooney, who scored 30 points in Thursday night's 82-63 victory at Missouri-Kansas City, was held to three points.
The Coyotes (7-3) had been off to their best start since winning their first 14 games in the 2007-08 season.
NOTES: Duke logged about 8,500 miles in November, but it will play four of its five December games at home. ... This was the first time South Dakota faced an Atlantic Coast Conference member, though it played Florida State and Notre Dame before those schools joined the ACC. ... This marked the first time Duke took on a team from the Summit League. ... Since becoming a Division I team, South Dakota is 0-6 against ranked opponents. ... Duke is home Tuesday night against Saint Francis (Pa.). ... South Dakota played its fifth consecutive game away from home. The Coyotes have a home game Wednesday against Drake.