Third-ranked Duke proves to be too much for Yale

DURHAM, N.C. — Yale basketball coach James Jones decided to test his veteran-laden team with some early challenges this season.

The Bulldogs, who didn’t play their first home game until three days ago, have won in China, at Miami, and nearly at Memphis before falling in double overtime.

But there are challenges, and then there was Yale’s latest task. The Bulldogs ventured into Cameron Indoor Stadium on Saturday night, where thirdranked Duke won its NCAA-best 145th consecutive nonconference home game while handing Yale a 91-58 loss.

Duke (9-1) hasn’t lost at home to a nonconference opponent since an 83-82 loss to St. John’s on Feb. 26, 2000, nearly 19 years ago. Two members of Duke’s heralded freshman class led the way, with RJ Barrett hitting for 30 points and Zion Williamson adding 20. It’s no coincidence that they also rank 1-2 in scoring in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

A third freshman, Cam Reddish, finished with 10 points, while the fourth freshman starter, point guard Tre Jones, added six points, three steals and two assists before taking an early seat because of a bruised quadriceps muscle.

Miye Oni scored 10 of his 12 points for Yale (4-3) in the first half, but foul trouble would send the sophomore wing to the bench. He fouled out with 6:45 remaining, but the outcome was long since decided by then.

Blake Reynolds added 10 points working around the basket and was the only Yale player to enjoy any semblance of good shooting night at 5-of-8.

Not that Jones was unaware of the monumental task his team faced. Yale played here three years ago and joined the list as No. 118 in the Duke streak, falling 80-61.

But maybe there is a method to the madness. The Bulldogs and Blue Devils would meet for a second time in the 2015-16 season in the second round of the NCAA tournament at Providence, and Yale bowed out by a respectable 71-64 count in the rematch. So, lesson learned?

“I told Coach before the game that what he has created down here is nothing short of tremendous,” Jones said of Mike Krzyzewski, calling the Duke coach “an American icon.”

Jones added, “Their fans are into every possession. It’s a wonderful experience for our players.”

Maybe it’s wonderful to look back on as a learning experience. But during the game, not so much.

Trey Phills III, a Charlotte, N.C., native playing in his “homecoming” game two hours up the highway, found out just how unforgiving the Duke students could be.

With just over 6 minutes to play, he went in for a breakaway dunk on the fast break but to his embarrassment clanged it off the front rim for a Duke rebound.

“You can’t dunk! You can’t dunk!” the Duke students chanted in response.

Yale entered the game ranked 10th in the nation in shooting (.514), 14th in scoring (87.2), and 17th in 3point shooting (.404), only to fall far short of those benchmarks.

Yale tried to run with the Blue Devils. But 23 turnovers and 35 percent shooting ruined that plan. The Bulldogs especially struggled from 3-point range, going 3-of-23.

Jones said the Bulldogs lost their composure running their offense.

“That hurt us,” he said. “They went on a couple runs because of a lack of composure.”

Two runs, one in each half, allowed the Blue Devils to take control.

Despite 16 first-half turnovers and 39 percent shooting, Yale managed to stay close by intermission, trailing 41-32. By coincidence, that was the same margin that Hartford trailed here Wednesday night before Duke ran the Hawks out of the arena, 84-54.

The Bulldogs last led at 22-21 on a dunk by Reynolds with 8:07 left in the half, but Duke went on a 14-1 run that took advantage of Yale’s turnovers and cold shooting.

The Bulldogs went 5 minutes without a field goal as Duke opened up a 37-25 advantage by the final TV timeout of the half at 3:42, with Barrett scoring six points in the run.

Duke pulled away for good when Barrett scored eight straight points in a 54-second span, including a rim-rattling dunk on the break and a 3-pointer that gave the Blue Devils a 66-45 lead with 13:07 remaining.

Krzyzewski, who starts four freshmen for the second year in a row, said he liked the idea of playing another veteran mid-major. Hartford was a similar team earlier in the week.

“We beat a real good team tonight,” Krzyzewski said. “They have a veteran team. They have seven kids who have been starters. They’re a great group.

“With the young team we have, even though they’re talented, we thought it would benefit our maturity.”

Duke can point to some lofty stats, too. The Blue Devils rank fifth in scoring (93.1), fifth in steals (10.6) and first in blocked shots.

The Blue Devils finished with 16 steals and six blocks, which fueled a 31-9 differential in fast-break points. That topped their average of 25.6 points per game, also best in the nation.