PROVIDENCE, R.I. – No. 4-seed Duke trailed 43-40 at halftime, but the defending national champion Blue Devils shot 68 percent in the second half en route to a 93-85 NCAA First Round victory from Dunkin’ Donuts Center.
Marshall Plumlee scored a career-high 23 points for the Blue Devils, and added eight rebounds and three blocks before fouling out with 2:01 remaining. Plumlee’s dunk with 13:16 to play staked Duke to its largest lead of the contest, 61-49.
Duke hit 31-of-43 free throws to outlast the Seahawks who pulled within five on a 3-pointer by Denzel Ingram with 1:24 to go. Ingram finished with 17 points and five of UNCW’s 11 3-pointers.
Grayson Allen also added 23 points for Duke on the strength of 15-of-17 free-throw shooting. Brandon Ingram shot 7-of-12 from the floor and added 20 points for the defending champs. UNCW was led by Craig Ponder who finished with 22 points. Chris Flemmings added 18.
Scott Graham and Donny Marshall called the action on Westwood One Sports.