DURHAM, N.C. — Freshman player Toby Fournier made a significant impact in the game by scoring a personal best of 25 points, leading the No. 14 Duke Blue Devils to a commanding 79-47 victory over Belmont on Thursday night.

Fournier showcased his skill with an impressive shooting percentage, going 10-of-15 from the field. The Blue Devils (5-1) collectively shot 55%, making 32 of their 58 attempts. Additionally, Oluchi Okananwa contributed with 15 points, hitting 6 of 7 shots, while Ashlon Jackson added 14 points to the scoresheet.

On the other hand, Carmyn Harrison was the standout for the Bruins (2-3), scoring 13 points with a shooting line of 6-of-9, but the team finished with a 33% success rate, managing only 20 baskets out of 60 attempts.

Duke dominated the rebounding battle, boasting a 46-24 advantage. Jordan Wood led the charge with 13 rebounds, while Reigan Richardson chipped in with nine, both career highs. This strong performance on the boards translated into a 19-2 margin in second-chance points and a 46-20 lead in points scored in the paint. The 6-foot-2 Fournier, who hails from Toronto, also recorded six rebounds and three blocks during the matchup.

Duke recorded 24 turnovers compared to Belmont’s 20. The Blue Devils and Bruins had previously faced off in the 2018 NCAA Tournament, with Duke winning that meeting 72-58.

By halftime, Fournier and Jackson were impressive, scoring 16 and 12 points, respectively, on a combined shooting figure of 12-of-17. This strong performance helped the Blue Devils build a significant lead of 40-17. At halftime, Duke was shooting 53% (18 of 34), while Belmont struggled with only 28%.

The Blue Devils started strong, finishing the first quarter with a 12-0 run, six of those points coming from Fournier and four from Jackson, ending the period with a 17-9 advantage. They began the second quarter with a quick basket, and despite Jailyn Banks’ six points for Belmont, Duke responded with a stunning 17 consecutive points, 10 of which were scored by Fournier, bringing their lead to 23 at the break.

Next, Duke will travel to Nevada to participate in the Ball Dawgs Classic, where they are set to take on No. 10 Kansas State on Monday.