Trio helps 7th-ranked Blue Devils extend No. 21 Tigers’ misery in Durham with 74-53 win
By Aaron Beard, APSunday, January 3, 2010
No. 7 Duke tops No. 21 Clemson 74-53 in ACC opener
DURHAM, N.C. — Jon Scheyer and Nolan Smith each scored 22 points to help seventh-ranked Duke beat No. 21 Clemson 74-53 Sunday night, extending the Tigers’ misery in Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Kyle Singler added 16 points for the Blue Devils (12-1), who opened Atlantic Coast Conference play with a dominating defensive performance that shut down Trevor Booker and the Tigers from the start. Duke held Clemson (12-3, 0-1 ACC) to just 12 points in the opening half and led by 18 at the break, avenging last year’s lopsided loss while handing the Tigers their 13th straight defeat at college basketball’s notoriously hostile arena.
Demontez Stitt scored 17 points to lead Clemson, which managed an 11-point run to start the second half and briefly get back in the game. But the Blue Devils remained in control thanks to their perimeter pressure, which made the Tigers work for everything and struggle to get the ball inside to Booker — a preseason all-ACC pick.
Tags: Clemson, Durham, Men's Basketball, North America, North Carolina, United States
