SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Tyrese Proctor led the way with 16 points as the No. 2 Duke Blue Devils secured an impressive 83-54 victory over Syracuse, marking their 16th consecutive win—the longest active winning streak in the nation.
In addition to Proctor’s contributions, Kon Knueppel added 12 points, while Cooper Flagg chipped in 11 points. Both Sion James and Isaiah Evans also made significant impacts, scoring 10 points each for the Blue Devils, who now boast a record of 20-2 and remain undefeated in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) at 12-0.
For the struggling Orange, Jyare Davis and J.J. Starling each scored 12 points, but the team has now slipped to 10-13 overall and 4-8 in the ACC, having lost four out of their last five outings. Naheem McLeod contributed with 10 points as well.
Duke showcased their shooting prowess, converting 44% of their shots in the first half to establish a 37-23 lead by halftime. The team significantly improved in the latter half, executing at an impressive 68% shooting rate. They also made 9 of 23 attempts from beyond the arc.
Starling’s early 3-pointer briefly narrowed the gap to 8-7, but that would be as close as Syracuse would get for the remainder of the contest.
### Takeaways
**Duke:** Despite not playing at their peak level, the Blue Devils effectively managed the game against a struggling Syracuse team, achieving a comfortable win.
**Syracuse:** The Orange exhibited resilience but ultimately could not measure up to Duke’s superior talent. Nevertheless, Syracuse still has a number of upcoming games that are winnable as they strive to secure their spot in the ACC Tournament, where 15 of the 18 participating teams will advance to the postseason.
### Key Moment
Both squads displayed sluggish beginnings, with Duke holding a slight 11-7 edge. The momentum shifted when Evans, Proctor, and James connected on consecutive 3-pointers, allowing Duke to create some space between them and the Orange.
### Key Statistic
Duke matched its season high by recording 12 steals, translating 14 Syracuse turnovers into 23 points, highlighting their defensive prowess.
### Up Next
The Blue Devils will face Clemson this Saturday evening, while Syracuse will take on Boston College at home on the same day.
