No. 13 Duke Hits 16 Three-Pointers In 121-56 Win Over N.C. Central

Friday, November 9

Durham, N.C.

7:00 p.m.

Duke University

121

NC Central

No. 13 Duke Hits 16 Three-Pointers In 121-56 Win Over N.C. Central

11/9/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. -- Taylor King tossed in five three-point baskets and scored a game-high 20 points as 13th-ranked Duke opened the season with a 121-56 win over N.C. Central on Friday night at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Duke made 16 three-point baskets in 28 attempts on the night to match the sixth-best single-game performance in school history, falling two shy of the record of 18. The 121 points also equaled the sixth-highest single-game effort in Duke hardwood history.

The Blue Devils have now won eight straight season-openers and are 79-24 overall and 26-2 under head coach Mike Krzyzewski in campaign lid-lifters. Friday's game also marked the first on the hardwood between the two Durham-based institutions.

Duke never trailed in the contest, jumping out to an 11-2 lead in the first four minutes of action. After Calvin Wright's bucket pulled the Eagles to within 11-4, the Blue Devils used a 15-1 run to claim a 26-5 lead on a dunk by Lance Thomas with 12:40 remaining in the opening half. The spurt also included dunks by Kyle Singler and Gerald Henderson along with a three-pointer from Jon Scheyer.

Six other Blue Devils joined King in double figures as Nolan Smith carded 16 and Gerald Henderson and Kyle Singler added 15 points each. Jon Scheyer came off the bench for 13 points while Martynas Pocius and DeMarcus Nelson chipped in 10 apiece.

King was seven-of-nine from the floor while sinking five-of-seven three-point attempts. He added one foul shot along with six rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots in 19 minutes. Scheyer was three-of-four from three-point range and dished out a game-best six assists against zero turnovers.

Brian Zoubek brought down a game-high nine rebounds as Duke outboarded the Eagles, 49-24, on the evening.
The Eagles were paced by Bryan Ayala's 18 points while Charles Futrell posted 17 points and six rebounds.

The Blue Devils remain at home to take on New Mexico State on Monday evening at 7 p.m. in a game televised live by espn2. The Aggies also kicked off the season on Friday night, falling to Ohio University by an 80-72 count in Athens, Ohio.