DURHAM, N.C. — Kyle Singler scored 12 of his 19 points during the decisive first half, and No. 8 Duke opened its season by routing Presbyterian 80-49 on Monday night in the first round of the 2K Sports Classic.
Singler added 10 rebounds and Nolan Smith scored 15 points for the Blue Devils, who used two dominating spurts to overwhelm the cold-shooting Blue Hose. Duke won its 60th straight nonconference game at Cameron Indoor Stadium and improve to 27-2 in home openers under coach Mike Krzyzewski.
Lance Thomas and Jon Scheyer added 12 points apiece for Duke, which faces Georgia Southern — a 65-63 winner over Houston — tonight with a semifinal berth at Madison Square Garden on the line.
After rolling to two exhibition victories against Division II schools by an average of 58.5 points, the Blue Devils were met with only slightly more resistance from a Presbyterian program entering its second season in Division I.
Duke denied the Blue Hose (0-1) its first road victory in 24 tries at this level.
Duke controlled both ends of the court, holding the Blue Hose to 1-of-11 shooting during one early stretch before reeling off 19 straight points — coming away with points on seven straight trips downcourt — to take a 20-point lead. At one point late in the half, the Blue Hose had more than twice as many turnovers (11) as field goals (five).
Volunteers lose guard West
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Freshman point guard Daniel West has been determined academically ineligible to play for Tennessee, coach Bruce Pearl announced.
