No. 9 Duke 98, North Carolina-Greensboro 44

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Posted 9:39PM on Saturday, November 27, 2004

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) Shelden Williams had 16 points and 11 rebounds Saturday night to help No. 9 Duke rout North Carolina-Greensboro 98-44. Daniel Ewing and J.J. Redick also scored 16 points for the Blue Devils (3-0), who built a 20-point lead midway through the first half and were never challenged by their in-state neighbor from the Southern Conference. Kyle Hines scored nine points for the Spartans (2-1). The Blue Devils had won the previous four meetings by an average margin of nearly 39 points, and they practically turned Saturday's meeting into a collection of highlight-reel moments. Duke shot 53 percent, hit 15 3-pointers and used its superior size and athleticism to smother the Spartans. Duke had six players score in double figures, and the Blue Devils held the Spartans to 30-percent shooting. It was a good way to rebound from an off night in this week's 74-61 win against Davidson, also from the Southern Conference. In that game, Duke watched a 20-point lead shrink to four with 5.5 minutes left before a late run put the game away. On this night, Duke scored 12 straight points in the first half to take a 21-6 lead in the first 7 minutes. The 6-foot-9, 250-pound Williams had his way inside, scoring three straight baskets against a front line whose biggest starter was the 6-8, 215-pound Ronnie Burrell. Williams ended his personal spurt by throwing down a long alley-oop pass from Redick as the Blue Devils pushed the ball upcourt in transition after a turnover. Williams then set a screen that freed Ewing for a straightaway 3. Ewing ended the run a minute later with another 3, pushing the margin to 15 points. From there, the Blue Devils methodically pulled away, forcing turnovers in the backcourt and getting wide-open 3s. Their pressure defense made every Spartans possession an adventure, with UNC-Greensboro managing 10 field goals and 14 turnovers in the first half. Duke ended the half with another 12-0 run, with Redick hitting two jumpers and finding Ewing for a 3 that gave the Blue Devils a 60-21 halftime lead. Duke shot 62 percent in the first half, including 9-for-19 from 3-point range.