Vernon Carey Jr. Scores 31 As Top Ranked Duke Beats California To Advance To The 2K Empire Classic Championship

On November 15th it was sophomore point guard Tre Jones who scored 31 points to lead Duke to a win over Georgia State in the 2K Champions Classic in Durham.

This time it was freshman Vernon Carey Jr. leading Duke who is now the top ranked team in the country to a win to a win over California with 31 points of his own. and 12 rebounds. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/11/21/mens-basketball-careys-31-carries-no-1-duke-past-cal-87-52.aspx

Vernon Carey Jr. wasn’t the only player to get in on the action though for Duke. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/11/21/mens-basketball-careys-31-carries-no-1-duke-past-cal-87-52.aspx

Jack White and Tre Jones hit consecutive 3s in the first half to help stretch a nine-point lead to 19 at halftime, and the Blue Devils never looked back. Duke fans filled the Garden, the program's home in the Northeast. The Blue Devils opened the season here with a win over Kansas and they beat Cal for their 37th career win at MSG.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/11/21/mens-basketball-careys-31-carries-no-1-duke-past-cal-87-52.aspx

The play of the game for Duke came on Alex O'Connell's driving, one-handed dunk down the lane in the second half that woke up the sleepy crowd. That made it 57-32 and the cheers continued as the dunk was replayed heading into a timeout. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/11/21/mens-basketball-careys-31-carries-no-1-duke-past-cal-87-52.aspx

While Duke advanced to the 2K Empire Classic Championship game where they will play Georgetown California meanwhile suffered their first loss of the season and will have to play Texas in the 2K Empire Classic.

For the first time this season, no Golden Bear player scored in double figures as the top-ranked Blue Devils were too much for Cal men's basketball to handle. No. 1 Duke topped Cal, 87-52, Thursday night in the semifinal of the 2K Empire Classic benefitting Wounded Warrior Project at Madison Square Garden to hand the Bears their first loss of the season. “according to https://calbears.com/news/2019/11/21/mens-basketball-cal-duke-recap.aspx

Kareem South and D.J. Thorpe led the Bears with 8 points apiece, and Andre Kelly pulled down a team-high 5 rebounds, but Cal recorded its lowest rebound total all season with just 28 boards.”according to https://calbears.com/news/2019/11/21/mens-basketball-cal-duke-recap.aspx

Vernon Carey led Duke with 31 points and 12 rebounds. Carey scored 21 points in the first half. Jack White and Tre Jones hit consecutive 3s in the first half to help stretch a nine-point lead to 19 at halftime, and the Blue Devils never looked back.  “according to https://calbears.com/news/2019/11/21/mens-basketball-cal-duke-recap.aspx

Cal and Duke played an even game to start, with both teams trading baskets to a 13-11 score before the Blue Devils began pulling away with 9 minutes remaining in the first half. By the end of the first half, Duke led, 40-21. “according to https://calbears.com/news/2019/11/21/mens-basketball-cal-duke-recap.aspx

Duke will return to action on Friday night when they take on Georgetown in the 2K Empire Classic Championship.