GREENVILLE, S.C. — No. 9 Duke flexed its muscles early and made the first game of Mike Krzyzewski’s final NCAA Tournament relatively stress-free.
Seeded No. 2 in the West Region, the Blue Devils needed only six minutes to build a 13-point lead and they cruised to a 78-61 win over No. 15 seed Cal State Fullerton Friday night at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
Duke (29-6) advances to Sunday’s second round to play either No. 7 seed Michigan State or No. 10 seed Davidson. Those teams played their first-round game later Friday night.
All five of Duke’s starters scored in double figures as the Blue Devils shot 51.7%.
Paolo Banchero scored 17 points with 10 rebounds to lead the Blue Devils in both categories. Mark Williams, Duke’s 7-1 sophomore center, scored 15 points and blocked five shots as the Blue Devils swatted away a season-high 10 shots. Williams also collected a career-high five assists.
Wendell Moore scored 13 points and led Duke with six assists while A.J. Griffin scored 10 points.
Jeremy Roach, in the starting lineup for the first time since Feb. 12 at Boston College, finished with 12 points and four assists.
Big West champion Fullerton (21-11) shot 37.5% overall, making only 5 of 17 3-pointers (29.4%).
Leading by 10 points at halftime, Duke hit 5 of its first 10 shots of the second half, including all three of its 3-pointers, to double its lead and build a 55-35 advantage with 12:40 to play.
Griffin hit a pair of 3-pointers during the flurry. Duke showed its offensive versatility working its halfcourt offense to get the ball inside to Williams and Banchero. Each scored, drew fouls, and completed conventional 3-point plays.
When Banchero took a pass from Williams to score his basket, Krzyzewski celebrated with Williams, yelling “That’s right” multiple times and slapping hands with Williams.
Duke opened the game on a tear, hitting nine of its first 15 shots to lead 17-4 and maintain that advantage at 22-9 with 11:24 to play in the first half.
But the Blue Devils gave the Titans a bit of hope. After Fullerton had hit just three of its first 17 shots, the Blue Devils turned the ball over on three consecutive possessions. Tray Maddox and Jalen Harris hit 3-pointers to slice Duke’s lead down to seven points.
A Roach 3-pointer from the left corner with 6:25 to play pushed Duke’s lead to 31-17, it’s largest of the first half. But, when Duke’s defense allowed gaps, the Titans struck back again, scoring eight consecutive points on two layups and jumpers in the lane.
Leading 33-27, Duke scored the final four points of the half on a Williams spin move and Banchero’s up-and-under move for a dunk and the Blue Devils took a 37-27 lead to halftime.
Duke hit 51.7% of its first-half shots but also turned the ball over eight times. Most of them were live-ball turnovers as Fullerton recorded five steals, which helped the Titans cut into Duke’s lead.
