DURHAM -- Led by freshman Kyle Filipowski's second consecutive double-double, the seventh-ranked Blue Devils defeated USC Upstate on Friday night, 84-38. Filipowski's 15 points led five Blue Devils in double figures, while Duke's defense limited the Spartans to just 27.8% shooting from the field in the 46-point victory.Â
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HOW IT HAPPENED
Jeremy Roachopened the scoring for Duke, connecting on a three-pointer at the 16:22 mark.
After trailing 7-0 to start the game, the Blue Devils took their first lead, 9-7, off a breakaway dunk by Dereck Lively IIwith 13:27 remaining in the half.
Duke opened up a 27-14 lead at the media timeout with 7:42 in the first half and took its first 20-point lead, 36-16, with 4:31 to play on a Jaylen Blakesthree-pointer.
Jacob Grandison slammed home his eighth point of the night to give Duke a 43-18 lead at halftime.
The Blue Devils opened the second half on a 16-0 run, capped off by a Jaden Schutt three-pointer to give Duke a 59-18 lead.
Kyle Filipowskilogged his second straight double-double after his tenth rebound of the night with 9:41 remaining and Duke leading, 69-26.
GAME NOTES
Duke has allowed just 82 points through two games, its fewest allowed through the first two games of a season since 1946-47, when the Blue Devils beat High Point, 44-29, and Hanes Hosiery, 44-43. The 2005-06 team allowed 87 points through the first two games – beating Boston University, 64-47, and Seton Hall, 93-40.
Since allowing 26 to Jacksonville in the first half of Monday's season opener, the Blue Devils have allowed 18, 18 and 20 over the last three halves, respectively.
Duke out rebounded USC Upstate, 52-27, including a 20-7 edge on the offensive glass. The second chance points favored Duke, 21-3.
The victory was Duke's 100th all-time when playing as the AP No. 7 ranked team (100-31). All-time, Duke is now 905-199 when playing as an AP top-10 ranked team.
Of the 14 Blue Devils that saw action, 11 had at least one rebound, 11 scored, 10 had at least one steal and six had at least one blocked shot.
Lively made his Duke debut, after missing the exhibition and first game with a calf injury. He made his first two field goals (both dunks) and finished with four points, two rebounds, two blocks and one steal in 15 minutes.
Filipowski recorded a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. He and Marvin Bagley III in 2017-18 are the only two Duke freshman all-time to open a career with consecutive double-doubles.
Freshman Mark Mitchell scored 13 points on 6-of-10 shooting with seven rebounds, three assists and one steal. He has scored 31 points through two games.
Grandison scored 12 points – his 57th career game in double-figures, while graduate transfer Ryan Young scored 11 with eight rebounds – his 34th career double-figure game and second this season.
Grandison's three steals were a game high, and matched a career high he had set six previous times – last coming while a player at Holy Cross on Feb., 27, 2019 vs. Colgate.Â
Junior Jeremy Roach had a game-high seven assists with 10 points and was a game-best +43.
QUOTES
"I thought Jacob Grandison and Jaylen Blakes', the energy that they brought and the defensive intensity. They really sparked us; from there we were off and running. The big thing for us is turning our defense into offense. But we weren't getting stops right away. Actually, we didn't even have a chance to get stops because we just gave up a couple layups to start the game. I credit those guys with sparking us." -- Head Coach Jon Scheyer
"Obviously, we've got Ryan Young [and] he's been doing a hell of a job for him, but D-Lively – he's going to be a lob threat, paint protector, a guy who can run the floor and he can space it out to. So, it's going to be a hell of an addition." -- Junior guard Jeremy Roach on the return of Dereck Lively II
NEXT GAME
Duke plays No. 5 Kansas on Tuesday in Indianapolis in the State Farm Champions Classic. The game tips at 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.