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Duke basketball: Blue Devils dissect Orange on road

After a shaky start at Syracuse on Saturday, Duke basketball sizzled.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball: Blue Devils dissect Orange on road
Duke basketball: Blue Devils dissect Orange on road /
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With Saturday night's 77-55 victory over the Syracuse Orange (16-11, 9-7 ACC), Duke basketball improved to 3-6 on the road this season, extended its win streak in the Syracuse series to eight games, and notched its 700th all-time ACC regular-season win. 

It was a turnover factory early as the teams combined for 17 first-half turnovers.

The unranked Blue Devils (19-8, 10-6 ACC) overcame their woes in that department, though, via a 19-10 advantage on the boards before the break, a surgical attack of the Syracuse zone after putting their panicked approach to bed, and an impressive 8-for-14 clip from three in the first half.

Although Duke enjoyed a 21-2 run late in the first half on the back of a scorching shooting display from freshman reserve Dariq Whitehead, whose 11 points at the half exceeded his season average of 8.5 points per game, Syracuse headed into the locker room on a 6-0 run, cutting into the visitors' lead at 40-27.

However, the Blue Devils protected that lead in the second half. They continued to dominate the glass, recording a 38-25 advantage in that column for the game. And they continued to execute their offense with admirable spacing and without committing careless turnovers (only four turnovers in the second half).

Duke finished 30-for-55 from the field, 13-for-26 from downtown, and 4-for-4 from the charity stripe. Three Blue Devils scored in double-figures: Whitehead (14 points), junior guard Jeremy Roach (17 points), and freshman forward Kyle Filipowski (14 points plus 12 rebounds).

Next up on the Duke basketball schedule is a home bout against the unranked Louisville Cardinals at 7 p.m. ET Monday (ESPN). These Duke Blue Devils are 13-0 in Cameron Indoor Stadium.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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