Duke Basketball Cruises to Easy Victory Over Mount St. Mary’s in NCAA Tournament Opener

The Blue Devils effortlessly secured a dominant win in their opening game of the NCAA Tournament.

What you’d expect from a matchup between a varsity team and a junior varsity team was even more one-sided than anticipated. The Duke basketball team, as predicted, easily overwhelmed Mount St. Mary’s in the Round of 64.

From the very first tipoff, it was clear who was in control.

Kon Knueppel got things started with a layup, followed by a dunk from Khaman Maluach. Soon, the Blue Devils were off to a 13-2 start, and the lead ballooned to 22-6 after a dunk from Cooper Flagg, who returned to the starting lineup after missing the previous two games due to an ankle injury. The game ended with a dominant 93-49 victory.

Jon Scheyer’s team looked every bit like the 33-point favorites they were predicted to be.

While the freshmen adjusted to the tournament stage, it was Duke’s veteran player, Tyrese Proctor, who set the tone in Raleigh. After a disappointing end to his sophomore season in the Elite 8, Proctor answered the call this time, scoring 19 points with six three-pointers.

Every player who stepped onto the court for Duke scored except for Cameron Sheffield.

As a team, the Blue Devils hit 14 three-pointers. Flagg quickly found his rhythm after returning from injury, contributing 14 points, seven rebounds, and four assists.

Caleb Foster, one of the few players with postseason experience, added to the three-point barrage with three made shots and 12 points. The scoring was well-rounded, with Maluach being the only other player to reach double figures, scoring 11 points.

This was a perfect warm-up for Duke as they prepare for a tougher challenge against Baylor and former Duke guard Jeremy Roach on Sunday. Baylor, once a preseason Top-10 team, has had a disappointing season but still features plenty of talent.

The tipoff time for Duke’s next game will be announced later on Friday night.