No. 2 Duke avoids potential injury disaster, cruises over Central Arkansas

DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 12: Tre Jones #3 of the Duke Blue Devils collides with Aaron Weidenaar #3 of the Central Arkansas Bears during the first half of their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on November 12, 2019 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 12: Tre Jones #3 of the Duke Blue Devils collides with Aaron Weidenaar #3 of the Central Arkansas Bears during the first half of their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on November 12, 2019 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

The Duke Basketball team cruised to a win over Central Arkansas on Tuesday night but the Blue Devils avoided a major injury scare in the victory.

On the box score, it was a nice and easy game for the No. 2 Duke Blue Devils as they dominated the Central Arkansas Bears, 105-54.

However, it was anything but nice and easy as Tre Jones lies on the floor in the first half, eerily similar to a game last season on January 14 against the Syracuse Orange as Jones was surrounded by Mike Krzyzewski and members of the Duke training staff on the Cameron Indoor Stadium floor.

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Shortly there after, all those surrounded by the Blue Devils were able to breathe a sign of relief as it was announced Jones would not return to the game due to “precautionary reasons” and he retuned to the bench and was all similes.

Jones only logged nine minutes in the win and accumulated seven points, one rebound, and two assists while making 3-of-5 shots, 1-of-2 from 3-point range.

Mike Krzyzewski said after the game that the expectation is that Jones will be on the floor on Friday night against Georgia State.

In his absence, Jordan Goldwire stepped in and thrived with nine points, three rebounds, four assists, and three steals on 4-of-6 shooting, making his lone 3-point attempt.

It was an all around solid game for every Blue Devil that stepped on the floor Tuesday night, as freshman Vernon Carey Jr. notched his first double-double of the season with 17 points and ten rebounds in just 20 minutes.

Matthew Hurt led the way for Duke with 19 points, a career high for the freshman, making all three of his 3-point attempts and 7-of-11 from the field. The Minnesota native also grabbed four rebounds, three assists, and two blocks.

In addition to those standout performance, a total six Blue Devils reached double figures in the victory (Alex O’Connell, Cassius Stanley, Wendell Moore, Javin DeLaurier).

Duke moves to 3-0 on the season and will stay at home to face Georgia State on Friday night at 7:00pm EST on the ACC Network.