Duke took the game against Buffalo tonight 82-59 to move to 8 and 1 on the year. Buffalo proved to be a pesky team seemingly not at all concerned with the history of Cameron Indoor Stadium and with Donyell Marshall and Julius Hodge on the sidelines there was certainly college basketball star power and history on their side. Duke did not begin the game with a lot of energy on either end of the floor, some perhaps due to looming finals some due to Buffalo defending Duke well and rebounding Duke evenly in the first half. The Bulls played Duke even in points on the paint and had a 2 to 1 edge in 2nd chance points. The double-digit lead that Duke enjoyed at the half was due to 13 to 2 advantage in free throw point disparity and
Neither team shot well in the first half with Duke shooting 32% and Buffalo shooting 31.3%. Duke didn’t manage a double-digit lead against until there was only 5:29 left in the first half.
In the second half Duke would increase its offensive production and percentage going from 32% to 50%.
Brandon Ingram, on the heels of a career high of 24 points against Indiana, scored a game high 23 points against Buffalo. Ingram shot 8 of 15 and seemed to be able to navigate the defense with ease, getting to the rim off the dribble, hitting from beyond the arc (2-4) and getting to the free throw line. Ingram also pulled down 8 rebounds and added 4 blocks and 2 steals. In what seemed like an off night Grayson Allen still poured in 22 points and pulled down 11 defensive rebounds for is first double-double as a Blue Devil. Allen front-rimmed a few shots and seemed to not trust, at times, his ability to finish and threw several errant passes instead of finishing at the rim. Grayson did do a masterful job of getting himself to the free-throw line for easy points where he went 11 of 13. Amile Jefferson was the only other Duke player who scored in double figures with 13 to go along with his 8 rebounds.
Buffalo was led by freshman CH Massinburg who went 8-12 from the field for 17 points, the 6’3 guard played well and seemed to have o problems getting and finishing at the rim against the taller Duke players.
Duke would eventually go on a 18-6 and build a 20 point lead to put the game out of reach.
