Duke pulls ahead, stays ahead of Wake Forest
DURHAM – Duke started slow and didn’t make its first 3-pointer until about 14 minutes into Saturday’s game.
The Blue Devils dominated inside, though, for a 90-69 win against visiting Wake Forest at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Duke (18-1, 7-0 ACC) kept its perch atop the league by outrebounding the Deacons 43-22. Perhaps the points-in-the-paint margin — 48-16 — was a better illustration of where this game was decided.
The only time Duke’s lead was under 10 in the second half was when Juke Harris made two free throws on the first possession. The Deacons (11-9, 2-5) cut the deficit to 10 twice around the 13- and 12-minute marks, but that was as close as things got in the second half.
Cameron Boozer put together another big game. The freshman had 32 points on 11-for-20 shooting, with nine rebounds, four assists and three steals. He had four of Duke’s 16 offensive rebounds.
Harris led Wake Forest with 23 points. That came after he only had three points in the first half. It’s the fourth time in the last five games he’s scored at least 20, each of those being a loss.
Wake Forest led for the bulk of the first half. Some of that had to do with the Deacons’ defense; some had to do with Duke missing a lot of open shots.
The Blue Devils eventually hit three 3s in the first half, all in a 3-minute span. That proved decisive, as the Blue Devils went on a 13-0 run to lead 37-25 about 3½ minutes before halftime.
Wake Forest got an early boost from Tre’Von Spillers and the surprise was it coming behind the 3-point line. Spillers entered the game 3-for-14 from long range this season and made two of them in the first four minutes.
