Recap: Duke Used Two Big Runs to Overpower Boston College

By Tyler Hoxsie | Jan 3, 2015

In Duke’s ACC opener the Blue Devils used two big runs to overpower the Boston College Eagles 85-62.

The good news: Jahlil Okafor is becoming unstoppable and is now hitting his free-throws. Okafor led the charge for Duke as he set a new career-high with 28 points. He is an unstoppable force and dominates his opponents while being extremely efficient. Okafor was 7-11 from the field with eight rebounds and four blocks.

The 28 points is great. The four blocks is great. But the most impressive part of the game was his ability to hit free-throws. Okafor started the game 11-11 from the charity stripe before he finally missed one but still managed to finish the game 14-17.

Duke and BC were trading baskets in the first 10 minutes of the game and then momentum started to swing in Duke’s favor. With 10:02 left in the first half Duke only led 21-18 after a 6-0 run for BC and for a moment you thought BC would hang around. Then the momentum changed and before you knew it Duke was up 16 points.

Jan 3, 2015; Durham, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Matt Jones (13) and center Jahlil Okafor (15) and guard Tyus Jones (5) and forward Justise Winslow (12) watch as teammate guard Quinn Cook (not pictured) shoots a technical foul shot in their game against the Boston College Eagles at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports

The Blue Devils may have gained the momentum by increasing their defensive pressure or it may have come when Justise Winslow went coast to coast and finished with a monster dunk. Winslow grabbed a defensive rebound with 5:41 left and Duke up 30-20 and proceeded to outrun the BC defense and finished above the rim for a monster dunk.

After that moment it never really seemed like Duke would allow this game to get remotely close. Over the years it has always been known that Duke will make a big run to end the half and never look back. That was no different with this game. The Blue Devils used a 17-4 run to end the first half and extend their lead to 36-20.

When the second half began you expected Duke to continue on its roll, but it took the Blue Devils a few minutes to get back in rhythm. The Eagles fought their way back to make it a 10 point game, 48-38. With 14:44 remaining and Duke up 50-40, the Blue Devils went on another one of their classic runs.

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The Blue Devils went on a 17-3 run in the second half and from there the game was over. Duke used a barrage of 3-pointers to put the game out of reach. Rasheed Sulaimon, Matt Jones and Quinn Cook led the charge when it came to the second half run. Jones got the run stared by knocking down a 3-pointer off of a Tyus Jones assist. Sulaimon hit two 3-pointers and Cook added another during their 17-3 run.

Duke’s defense was impressive throughout the game and is the type of performance you expect from this team. The defense was better and the offense stayed hot. Duke has one of the most potent offense’s in the country and used a balanced attack today.

Four different Blue Devil’s were in double figures and eight different players scored. Okafor finished with 28, Cook scored 15, Winslow added 13 and Sulaimon chipped in with 11. Matt Jones finally knocked down a 3-pointer and finished with eight points.

For Duke to have a chance to win a National Championship they will need Sulaimon and Matt Jones to contribute on a consistent basis. This was a very good sign for the Blue Devils moving forward, especially as they move deeper into ACC play.

The bad news: Duke was having trouble containing the BC guards and dribble penetration in the first half and that has been a problem area in the past. BC was getting into the paint and either finishing in the lane or kicking to a wide open shooter. After the first 10 minutes their defense improved and the dribble penetration didn’t occur as often.

Jan 3, 2015; Durham, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils center Jahlil Okafor (15) shoots a foul shot against the Boston College Eagles in their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports

Hanlan led the Eagles in scoring and was a one man team tonight. He scored 22 points and was tough match-up all game long. Hanlan got into the paint and would either score or kick it out to a wide open shooter. Bad news for Hanlan is no one else was making shots, especially from deep. BC shot 40.6 percent from the field and only 25 percent from behind the arc.

Game MVP:

It is becoming obvious who Duke’s MVP is game after game. It is Jahlil Okafor. Game after game he dominates. Game after game the team runs through him. Okafor is a true low post player who cannot be covered by one player. If he is left in a one-on-one match-up he will score himself. If you double he will make the smart play and find the open man. It may be obvious and boring to choose Okafor but you can’t deny someone their credit just because they are great.

Game Changing Moment:

With Duke struggling to pull away in the first half they needed to make a big play to wake everyone up. Justise Winslow was just the person they needed. He grabbed a defensive rebound, went coast-to-coast and finished with a monster jam. Winslow’s dunk electrified the crowd and ignited his team.

Duke Highlights:

The Duke Blue Devils improve to 13-0 overall and 1-0 in the ACC.

They have won all 13 games by double digits.

Duke has won 40 straight games at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Coach K earned his 996 career victory, his 923 victory at Duke, and his 418 ACC victory (2nd to Dean Smith).

Duke has only trailed for 5:55 and that the total combined time for the entire season.

What’s Next For Duke:

Five of the next seven games for the Blue Devils are on the road and are all conference games.

Duke’s next game is at Wake Forest on Wednesday, Jan. 7 at 9 p.m.

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