Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball at California on January 14, 2026 at 11 p.m.
Men's Basketball
at California
Friday, October 30
Durham, N.C.
7:00 PM
Duke University
vs
Florida Southern (Exhibition)
Thornton, Duke Top Florida Southern 112-68
10/30/2015 10:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball
DURHAM, N.C. – The fourth-ranked Duke men's basketball team opened up the preseason by hosting Florida Southern, the reigning NCAA Division II national champion, downing the Mocs by a score of 112-68. Six Blue Devils finished with double-digits in the scoring column, highlighted by freshman Derryck Thornton with 22 to pace all scores. Senior Amile Jefferson filled the stat sheet in his first game since the national championship, posting a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds to go with six assists, four blocks and two steals in just 19 minutes.
The Blue Devils came out of the gates strong, building an early 15-2 lead behind back-to-back threes from junior Matt Jones and two quick buckets from graduate student Marshall Plumlee. Freshman Chase Jeter capped the run and put his offensive arsenal on full display on his first touch of the game, spinning baseline and blowing past the defense for the reverse layup and the foul.
Florida Southern responded by hitting four of its next eight three-point attempts, charging back to put the score at 24-20 with 10:20 left in the first half. The momentum for the Mocs was short-lived, however, as the Blue Devils went on a 40-20 run to put the home team up by 24 at the break. Florida Southern finished the first half shooting 6-of-17 from deep (35.3 percent).
The Blue Devils picked up right where they left off at the end of the break, opening the second half on a 27-9 run to extend its lead to 42. Thornton scored 13 of his 22 points in the second half, while Plumlee and freshman Luke Kennard each poured in seven in the final period.
Duke will return to Cameron Indoor Stadium for its second and final exhibition game, hosting Livingstone Wednesday, Nov. 4 with tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m. The matchup with the Blue Bears will be broadcast live on BDN+.
#GoDuke
The Blue Devils came out of the gates strong, building an early 15-2 lead behind back-to-back threes from junior Matt Jones and two quick buckets from graduate student Marshall Plumlee. Freshman Chase Jeter capped the run and put his offensive arsenal on full display on his first touch of the game, spinning baseline and blowing past the defense for the reverse layup and the foul.
Florida Southern responded by hitting four of its next eight three-point attempts, charging back to put the score at 24-20 with 10:20 left in the first half. The momentum for the Mocs was short-lived, however, as the Blue Devils went on a 40-20 run to put the home team up by 24 at the break. Florida Southern finished the first half shooting 6-of-17 from deep (35.3 percent).
The Blue Devils picked up right where they left off at the end of the break, opening the second half on a 27-9 run to extend its lead to 42. Thornton scored 13 of his 22 points in the second half, while Plumlee and freshman Luke Kennard each poured in seven in the final period.
Duke will return to Cameron Indoor Stadium for its second and final exhibition game, hosting Livingstone Wednesday, Nov. 4 with tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m. The matchup with the Blue Bears will be broadcast live on BDN+.
#GoDuke
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Basketball
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