Kyle Filipowski produced his first double-double of the season with 21 points and 14 rebounds, and No. 6 Duke scored the first 11 second-half points to overcome surprising Southern Indiana in a deceiving 80-62 victory Friday night at Durham, N.C.
The Blue Devils trailed by 10 points at several junctures of the first half and faced a 35-31 hole at the half.
Jeremy Roach had 18 points, Tyrese Proctor posted 11 points and Jared McCain had 10 points for Duke (5-1), which won its fourth game in a row. The last three of those came at home in a multi-team event that was dubbed the Blue Devils Challenge.
Jeremiah Hernandez racked up 15 points for the Screaming Eagles (1-6), whose early 12-0 run seemed to catch the Blue Devils by surprise.
AJ Smith scored all 11 of his points in the first half with three 3-point baskets. He grabbed 13 rebounds for the game. Javius Moore also scored 11 points.
McCain hit 3-pointers at the beginning and end of Duke’s 11-point burst to begin the second half.
Even with that, it wasn’t smooth all the way to the finish for the Blue Devils. Leading 58-45, they went almost three minutes without scoring until two Caleb Foster free throws with 8:22 left. During that stretch, Southern Indiana managed just four points.
Southern Indiana, which owns its lone victory against Division II Tiffin, exceeded its average number of 3-point baskets in the first half by draining seven from deep.
The Blue Devils were out of sync, so much so that Proctor committed his first turnover in four games in the first half. There was a time in the first half when Proctor was the only Duke starter on the court as coach Jon Scheyer tried several combinations.
Duke wasn’t charged with a foul until 2:28, which remained in the first half. Southern Indiana shot six free throws for the game.
–Field Level Media