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Duke Basketball: Blue Devils begin NCAA Tournament against NDSU

By Kevin Connelly

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA - MARCH 22: Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils attempts a shot against the North Dakota State Bison in the first half during the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Colonial Life Arena on March 22, 2019 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA - MARCH 22: Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils attempts a shot against the North Dakota State Bison in the first half during the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Colonial Life Arena on March 22, 2019 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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The Duke Basketball team started its run in the NCAA Tournament, playing North Dakota State in the Round of 64.

After Mike Krzyzewski said that Marques Bolden would return from an MCL sprain tonight, but not start, he rolled with the starting five that was on the floor for the three games in the ACC Tournament.

It was Tre Jones, Cam Reddish, R.J. Barrett, Zion Williamson, and Javin DeLaurier on the floor for the opening tipoff.

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Zion Williamson got off to a hot start, winning the jump ball, bullying his way to the first basket of the game, and then swatting a shot into the Duke bench. After that, it was nothing but 3-pointer after 3-pointer.

The Blue Devils took six 3-pointers in the first five and a half minutes, making only one of them.

While the Duke defense settled in and stifled the North Dakota State offense, the Duke offense was very tough to watch.

Duke leads North Dakota State 31-27 at halftime, but the Bison are doing all it can do to hang with the Blue Devils.

As usual, Zion Williamson led the way for the Duke with 10 points.

R.J. Barrett finished with 10 points and five rebounds and Cam Reddish had four points and three rebounds, with all his points coming at the free throw line.

In the second half, Duke just needs to come out with a lot more energy. The Blue Devils are obviously more talented than North Dakota State and its time for them to show in on the court.

Expect to see the same intensity on the defensive end of the floor, but Duke needs to be more efficient and together on offense and that means getting the ball to Zion Williamson in the post where no one can stop him.

Stay tuned to Ball Durham on Twitter, @Ball_Durham, and here at our website, balldurham.com, for complete coverage of the Duke Blue Devils vs. the North Dakota State Bison. 

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