Duke Crushes Bucknell in Cameron Indoor Stadium Showdown
Durham, N.C- In an excellent game at Cameron Indoor Stadium, Duke’s ninth-ranked basketball team (3-1) went head-to-head with Bucknell (1-4) on Friday, November 17, at 6 PM. The Blue Devils dominated the court, sealing a 90-60 win.
Jared McCain got things going with a three-pointer, setting the tone for Duke. Bucknell’s Jack Forrest was aggressive, scoring two threes in a row. Duke’s defense, with guys like Mitchell, McCain, and Proctor, adjusted to shut down Forrest with face-guarding action.
There was a scare when Filipowski got a contact injury, focusing on his right ankle. But the 7-footer, who had hip surgery in the offseason, toughed it out, coming back strong after halftime. Duke wrapped up the first half with an 11-0 run in the last three minutes, extending their lead.
Roach and Proctor hit consecutive threes to start the second half. Duke’s ball movement was on point, creating chances and pushing an 8-0 run early on. The team kept shining, going crazy with a 32-3 run over seven minutes.
McCain was one of the standouts, hitting a career-high 17 points, including 5-7 from beyond the arc. Freshman Caleb Foster showed his worth, handling the ball well with no turnovers. Mark Mitchell also had a great game, scoring a career-best 20 points with 8-13 on field goals.
Bucknell had a tough time keeping up the offense, a common issue for a team barely shooting above 40% this season. It was their first game against Duke in 18 seasons, and coach John Griffin III, in his first year, had history with the team.
With this win, Duke looks forward to their next game at home against La Salle on Tuesday night at 7 PM. The game against Bucknell showcased Duke’s strengths, making fans excited for what’s coming up for the remainder of the season.