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BASKETBALL

Duke Returns To Durham For Their Home Opener As They Take On Army West Point

After blowing out Kentucky in Indianapolis in their season opener at the Champions Classic Duke returns to Durham to host Mike Krzyzewski’s alma mater Army West Point on Sunday for their home opener.

Duke who is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference comes into the season with a record of 1-0 while Army West Point who is a member of the Patriot League also comes into the game with a record of 1-0. “according to http://www.goduke.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=4200&SPID=1845&SPSID=22726https://goarmywestpoint.com/schedule.aspx?path=mbball

As for Duke’s season opener, As stated above blew out Kentucky in the Champions Classic in Indianapolis.

RJ Barrett scored 33 points and Zion Williamson added 28 in their first college games, leading No. 4 Duke over No. 2 Kentucky 118-84 on Tuesday night in the season-opening Champions Classic. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211779280&DB_OEM_ID=4200

It was the most lopsided defeat in coach John Calipari's tenure at Kentucky and marked the eighth time in 10 meetings the Blue Devils have beaten the Wildcats. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211779280&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Both Barrett and Williamson surpassed Marvin Bagley III's program record for points by a freshman in his debut at 25. Cam Reddish added 22 points and Tre Jones had six, giving Duke's freshmen a combined 89 points. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211779280&DB_OEM_ID=4200

The teams set a Classic record for most combined points, set hours earlier in No. 1 Kansas' 92-87 victory over No. 10 Michigan State. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211779280&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Keldon Johnson scored 23 points to lead Kentucky. Graduate transfer Reid Travis added 22 for the Wildcats, who had won all nine previous season openers under Calipari. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211779280&DB_OEM_ID=4200

The highly-anticipated game between two of the nation's most successful college programs was never close. Duke led by 10 after six minutes and extended the lead to 34-13 less than 10 minutes into the game. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211779280&DB_OEM_ID=4200

The Blue Devils didn't stop with that flurry. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211779280&DB_OEM_ID=4200

After making it 59-42 at halftime, Duke kept pulling away throughout the second half. Barrett's dunk with 16:11 remaining made it 72-47, Alex O'Connell's 3-pointer with 11:45 remaining made it 91-54 and Duke topped the 100-point mark on another dunk by Barrett with 7:36 left. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211779280&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Kentucky only got as close as 27 until the waning moments. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211779280&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Barrett was 13 of 26 from the field while Williamson was 11 of 13 with seven rebounds. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211779280&DB_OEM_ID=4200

As for Army West Point’s season opener, Like Duke they won as they topped Marist.

Junior Tommy Funk hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 3.8 seconds remaining to hand Army West Point men's basketball a thrilling 73-69 victory over Marist here Tuesday night. “according to https://goarmywestpoint.com/news/2018/11/6/mens-basketball-funks-three-lifts-army-in-opening-game-thriller.aspx?path=mbball

Trailing by six with 5:29 left in the second half, the Black Knights sparked a 9-2 run to pull ahead by one thanks to a pair of treys by Jordan Fox and three points from Matt Wilson. The two sides battled back-and-forth for the final 2:47 of the game until Funk's triple with 3.8 remaining clinched the victory for the home team. “according to https://goarmywestpoint.com/news/2018/11/6/mens-basketball-funks-three-lifts-army-in-opening-game-thriller.aspx?path=mbball

The Warrington, Pa., native finished with 15 points, including that critical make from long range, while dishing out a game-high six assists.”according to https://goarmywestpoint.com/news/2018/11/6/mens-basketball-funks-three-lifts-army-in-opening-game-thriller.aspx?path=mbball

Wilson led the Black Knights' offense with a career-high 24 points on perfect 8-of-8 shooting. The junior added six rebounds and 8-of-12 makes at the free throw line as well. Fox closed out the Army players in double-digits with 14 points, 12 of those coming from behind-the-arc. Rookie Josh Caldwell tied Wilson for a team-high six rebounds. “according to https://goarmywestpoint.com/news/2018/11/6/mens-basketball-funks-three-lifts-army-in-opening-game-thriller.aspx?path=mbball

The victory handed head coach Jimmy Allen his first season-opening win since taking over the program at the start of the 2016-17 season. “according to https://goarmywestpoint.com/news/2018/11/6/mens-basketball-funks-three-lifts-army-in-opening-game-thriller.aspx?path=mbball

ARMY HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES

  • The Black Knights finished the game shooting 43.1 percent (22-of-51) from the floor and 30 percent (9-of-30) from downtown. Army closed out its night 20-of-29 from the charity stripe.

  • Caldwell, Aaron Duhart, and Ben Kinker each played in their first collegiate game.

  • The Cadets outscored the Red Foxes 13-8 on points off turnovers.

  • Marist held the advantage on bench points (29-14), points in the paint (38-22), and second-chance points (9-8).

  • There were nine lead changes and seven tie scores throughout the contest.

  • With his 14 points, Fox is now 80 points shy of 1,000 in his West Point career.

  • He recorded his seventh-straight game with at least 10 points.

  • Fox also surpassed the 150-career trey mark with four in the contest.

  • The Jackson County, Ky., native saw his streak of consecutive games with an assist snapped at 35.

  • The last time Fox was held without an assist was against Holy Cross on Feb. 15, 2017.

  • Caldwell chipped in five points in his debut, while Duhart tallied six points and Kinker added one.

  • Marist compiled 23 assist to 22 for the Cadets.

  • Wilson notched his fourth career 20-plus point game. “according to https://goarmywestpoint.com/news/2018/11/6/mens-basketball-funks-three-lifts-army-in-opening-game-thriller.aspx?path=mbball

    Tip-off is set for 1:00pm from Cameron Indoor Stadium. The game will be televised on ESPN.

College BasketballAbigail BaggettArmy West Point, DukeComment