Mason Plumlee scored a double-double as No. 2 Duke Blue Devils routed Delaware Fighting Blue Hens 88-50.
For Duke, Ryan Kelly scored 18 points, while Plumlee added 18 points and chipped in with 11 rebounds. Rasheed Sulaimon had 14 points, Amile Jefferson 12 and Murphy 10 points.
Duke never trailed in the game and registered their eighth straight victory. They shot well from the field, ending the game with a 52 shooting percentage.
"If playing hard is our habit," Plumlee said, "we'll be a good team and keep getting better.''
Seth Curry was out because of an ankle injury, but the team's performance did not have an effect as other players contributed in his absence.
"When a guy like that is out ... it's everybody's responsibility to step up," Alex Murphy said.
For Delaware, top scorer Devon Saddler netted 23 points. He had nine out of 22 attempts from the field, whereas his teams' record was 18 out of 65 attempts.
"We have tried to put ourselves in position to play some 'up' games, to play the best competition possible," Delaware coach Monte Ross said. "When you do that, there is always a possibility that you are going to lose some of those games."
Duke improved their winning record against CAA teams to 24-0 under Mike Krzyzewski.
"You know, sometimes in these situations ... there's a chance for a letdown, and we didn't have it," Krzyzewski said. "Our guys played hard and well the whole way."
Duke dominated the first half, scoring 42 points against Delaware's ordinary 19. Blue Hens missed 11 consecutive shots at one point in the opening half.
"When I get opportunities, I have to take advantage of them," Kelly said. "I think early in my career, I was a little bit one-dimensional.
"I was just being a shooter, and now I'm just trying to be a player -- whether that (means) taking open shots or making plays for myself and others."
The second half was no different from the first. The Delaware offense tried to improve, but could add only 31 points against Duke's 46.
© Copyright 2024 Sports World News, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.