Duke Tops Florida State In Their Atlantic Coast Conference Home Opener

Duke who returned to Cameron Indoor Stadium  for their Atlantic Coast Conference home opener defeated Florida State.

 Marvin Bagley III and Wendell Carter Jr. kept cleaning up plenty of misses for No. 4 Duke. Florida State had no way to stop them, especially down the stretch when the Seminoles' shots stopped falling. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211691003

Bagley had 32 points and a season-best 21 rebounds, and the Blue Devils pulled away to beat No. 24 Florida State 100-93 on Saturday. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211691003

Fellow freshman Carter added 14 points and a season-high 16 rebounds, Grayson Allen scored 22 points and Trevon Duval scored 11 of his 16 in the second half to help the Blue Devils (13-1, 1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) win a back-and-forth game that had 14 lead changes and the feel of March. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211691003

"We couldn't stop each other," coach Mike Krzyzewski said, "and the will to score and will to win was evident every second from both teams. For us to win that game is sensational for our group." "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211691003

Phil Cofer scored a career-high 28 points and Braian Angola finished with a career-best 23 for the Seminoles (11-2, 0-1), who shot nearly 45 percent and hit 15 3-pointers. Angola's 3 with just under 4 minutes remaining put them up 91-89, but they missed their final eight shots -- six of which came from long range. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211691003

"I thought our kids were connected. We just didn't have an answer for keeping Bagley and Carter off the glass," coach Leonard Hamilton said. "They are such good athletes and have such great hands and timing and strength. ... That made the difference in the game. When you have two guys like that, they make up for misses." "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211691003

Bagley and Carter combined for 37 rebounds -- two more than the entire Seminoles team -- and they helped Duke impose its will inside when it counted most. Of Duke's final 12 field goals during the last 10 1/2 minutes, all but one were layups or dunks. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211691003

Duval and Carter teamed to make several key plays down the stretch for the Blue Devils, with Krzyzewski saying he told Duval that "we're not going to call a play. Just go. And he went." "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211691003

Duval hit a twisting layup that tied it at 93 with about 3 minutes left, then found an uncovered Carter underneath a possession later for the go-ahead dunk. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211691003

Carter -- playing with four fouls -- then drew a key charge on Trent Forrest on Florida State's next trip downcourt and Duval hit on another acrobatic drive two possessions later to make it 97-93 and make it a two-possession game to stay. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211691003

"I was just in the moment where I saw him driving at me, and during the scouting report, I knew he wasn't going to stop on a dime or dish it over," Carter said. "So I just stepped over and hoped the referee was on my side." "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211691003

BIG PICTURE

Florida State: The Seminoles received no favors from the ACC's schedule-maker. They could open league play with three straight losses yet still have a strong case for a Top 25 ranking because their first three league opponents are Duke, No. 13 North Carolina and No. 15 Miami. They put themselves in position for their second victory at Cameron Indoor Stadium in the past decade -- but it slipped away during that untimely cold spell. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211691003

Duke: The nation's fourth-ranked team is no longer in the ACC's cellar, but had to work awfully hard to escape it. The Blue Devils struggled from long range, shooting just 26.7 percent from beyond the arc, but made up for it by scoring 56 points in the paint, thanks in large part to Bagley and Carter. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211691003

STAR WATCH

Cofer surpassed his career high in the first half, scoring 22 points by halftime. His last field goal -- a 3-pointer from the corner -- came with about 15 1/2 minutes remaining. "He didn't force any shots," Hamilton said. "Other guys got momentum and produced. ... The ball just didn't come to him." "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211691003

SHOT OF THE NIGHT

Bagley missed a free throw with 8:44 remaining but grabbed the rebound in the lane and put up a shot through contact from Angola that spun off the top of the backboard and dropped through. Bagley hit the free throw that followed to put Duke up 78-74. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211691003

With the win Duke improves to 13-1 on the season while they're 1-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. "according to http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/team/schedule/_/id/150 while Florida State dropped to 11-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. "according to http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/team/_/id/52/florida-state-seminoles

Duke now  hits the road as they take the short trip down I-40 to  Raleigh where they will face tobacco rival NC State Saturday January 6th at PNC Arena.

Tip-off is time to be announced. "according to http://www.goduke.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=4200&SPID=1845&SPSID=22726