DURHAM, N.C. — Tyrese Proctor led the charge with 15 points as No. 6 Duke secured an impressive 86-35 victory over Wofford on Saturday, bouncing back from their initial season loss.
The Blue Devils, now standing at 3-1, had recently faced a defeat against No. 19 Kentucky, where they lost 77-72 in the Champions Classic. In this matchup, Duke showcased dominant gameplay, establishing a lead that reached up to 51 points, marking it as their most one-sided win of the season.
Alongside Proctor, Caleb Foster contributed 13 points, while both Khuman Maluach and Isaiah Evans chipped in with 11 points each. The Blue Devils took control early, building a 39-point advantage by halftime, and restricted Wofford to a mere 24.6% shooting percentage throughout the game. The Terriers, now 1-3, experienced a scoring drought that lasted over six minutes during the first half, allowing Duke to enter halftime with a commanding 51-14 lead.
For Wofford, Kyler Filewich and Corey Tripp each scored 12 points, but their efforts were not enough to overcome Duke’s exceptional defensive display.
Observations: Wofford, forecasted to finish fourth in the Southern Conference, saw their third consecutive loss as they prepare for the Cream City Challenge, looking for their first victory against a Division I team this season. In contrast, Duke excelled defensively, setting new season lows for points and field-goal percentage allowed.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when Wofford’s offense went silent for over six minutes during the first half, failing to score. It wasn’t until a jumper from Tripp with 5:06 left in the half that they broke the scoring drought, which had coincided with a 17-0 run by the Blue Devils.
In terms of key statistics, Cooper Flagg, who had been Duke’s leading scorer averaging 19 points, struggled initially, obtaining only five points during the first half on 2-of-5 shooting. However, Flagg made his presence felt in other aspects of the game, leading his team with six rebounds, three assists, and two steals before halftime, and finishing with a total of eight points.
Looking ahead, Wofford will head to Milwaukee to face St. Thomas on Friday, while Duke is set to challenge No. 9 Arizona in their next meeting against another ranked opponent.