No. 7 Duke 74, No. 21 Clemson 53: Defensive Show By The Blue Devils

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January 3, 2010 - Durham, NC (Sports Network) - Jon Scheyer scored 22 points to lead seventh- ranked Duke to a 74-53 victory over 21st-ranked Clemson in the ACC opener for both schools.

Nolan Smith also contributed 22 points for Duke (12-1, 1-0 ACC), which improved to 9-0 at home this season. Kyle Singler totaled 16 points in the win, the Blue Devils’ first over the Tigers in the last three matchups.

Demontez Stitt led the Tigers (12-3, 0-1) with 17 points, but Clemson had its six-game win streak snapped. Jerai Grant came off the bench to score 11 points, while Trevor Booker had 10 points in defeat.

Duke took complete control in the first half.

Clemson took a slight 4-2 lead a couple minutes into the game, but the Blue Devils scored the next 10 points, punctuated by a Lance Thomas layup a bit after the eight-minute mark.

The Tigers climbed back to within 14-10 on a Tanner Smith layup, but an ensuing 11-0 run by Duke built a 15-point advantage with 2 1/2 minutes left.

Noel Johnson stopped the burst with a jumper for a 25-12 game, but Duke scored the final five points of the period, as a Scheyer free throw provided a 30-12 halftime margin.

The Tigers came out of the locker room scorching, beginning the second half on an 11-0 run to cut their deficit to seven on a Booker three-point play. That was as close as they got, though, as Duke answered with a crippling 12-2 run.

Scheyer ended Clemson’s run and began the Blue Devils’ surge with a jumper at the three-minute mark, and he finished it with a three-pointer for a 42-25 game three minutes later.

The hosts led by double digits for the remainder of the game.

Duke has dominated the all-time series, 101-29...Clemson fell to 3-1 in true road games...Duke shot 52.2 percent and held the Tigers to 30.2 percent from the field.