Roach Matches Career-High, Duke Downs Iowa

NEW YORK – Thanks to a career-high tying 22 points from junior Jeremy Roach, No. 15 Duke defeated Iowa, 74-62, Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden in the Jimmy V Classic. Freshman Kyle Filipowski had his sixth double-double as Duke won its 40th all-time game at MSG, where it has won six straight games and seven of its last eight.

The Blue Devils (9-2) limited the high-scoring Hawkeyes (6-2) to a season-low 62 points in improving to 4-0 when playing in the Jimmy V Classic.

A high-tempo first five minutes was highlighted by Jeremy Roach and Tyrese Proctor, who scored five points and four points respectively to help give Duke an 11-5 lead at the first media timeout.

After Iowa tied the contest at 11 apiece, back-to-back three-pointers by Jacob Grandison and Dariq Whitehead established a 17-11 advantage for the Blue Devils with 10:33 remaining in the first half.

Duke made six consecutive shots to open up a 36-24 lead, its largest of the game up to that point, at the 3:48 mark.

The Blue Devils took a 37-31 lead into halftime.

Kyle Filipowski extended his streak of scoring double-figures in every game this season with a three-pointer just under three minutes into the second half.

Duke held Iowa’s offense to a stretch of 1-of-9 from the field to secure a 61-45 lead at the under-8 media timeout.

Roach reached 20 points for the second time this season, and the third time in his career, with a layup to put Duke ahead, 67-52.

Duke put the game on ice with clutch free throw shooting down the stretch and Filipowski snagged a late offensive rebound for his sixth double-double.

After the game, freshman forward Mark Mitchell discussed how important Jeremy Roach is to this team. “Yeah, he’s our captain. He keeps us together. He’s been here. A lot of us, you know, it’s our first time playing in the Garden, he’s played all these big-time events, so he keeps us together. He keeps us as one, and that’s what a captain does

Captain Roach and the Blue Devils will look to continue this hot streak as they return home on Saturday, December 10 for a 3 pm matchup against Maryland Eastern Shore.