Duke left no doubt on Sunday.
2015 March Madness bracket: Duke steams into Sweet 16
Jahlil Okafor led the Blue Devils to an easy win.
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
The No. 1 Blue Devils leapt on No. 8 San Diego State from early in the first half, and didn’t stop mauling the Aztecs until the clock read 0:00, coming away with a 68-49 victory in Charlotte.
Duke center Jahlil Okafor had 26 points and six rebounds, making a fantastic 12-of-16 shots in the win. He's now averaging 23.5 points per game in the NCAA Tournament, and has made 21-of-27 shots. And the Blue Devils also sank 6-of-14 threes, committed just nine turnovers and held offensively challenged San Diego State to under 33 percent shooting from the field. Even shooting only two (!) free throws on the day -- a season low -- didn't hurt Mike Krzyzewski's team at all.
After an 8-0 run out of the gate turned into an 18-6 run, Duke eventually built an 18-point advantage in the first half, and led by 13 at the intermission. The Aztecs scrapped back to a seven-point hole in the second half, but Duke responded with an 11-0 spurt that extinguished all hope of an upset.
Duke has now alternated trips to at least the Sweet 16 and first-round exits for the last five seasons. In 2010, though, the Blue Devils were the top seed in a South Regional that ended in Houston -- and eventually won the national title.
Through two rounds, this team is on pace for an attempt at repeating history.
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