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BASKETBALL

Top Ranked Duke To Host Eastern Michigan Wednesday

The first week of the regular season is in the books and on Monday the new AP Top 25 poll came out with Duke in the top spot to begin week two of the regular season entering their game against Eastern Michigan on Wednesday.

Duke who is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference comes into the game with a record of 2-0 while Eastern Michigan who is a member of the Mid -American Conference comes into the game with a record of 3-0.

As for Duke’s previous game, they beat Army West Point on Sunday.

The fourth-ranked Blue Devils pulled away to beat the Black Knights 94-72 on Sunday behind 27 points and 16 rebounds from Zion Williamson. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211780086

Playing five days after routing the second-ranked Wildcats in the Champions Classic , they shot 49 percent but couldn't shake the Black Knights until the final 10 minutes, finally pulling away with an 11-0 run keyed by 3-pointers from fellow freshmen RJ Barrett and Cameron Reddish. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211780086

"It's one thing for somebody to tell you that everybody's going to bring their best against you, that all their shots are going to feel like they're going in," Williamson said. "But I think until you truly experience it, I think you just have to go through it to fully understand." “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211780086

Reddish finished with 25 points and Barrett had 23 while Williamson added six blocked shots and four assists for the Blue Devils (2-0). “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211780086

Coach Mike Krzyzewski called it "a perfect game for us following Kentucky" and said his team's preparation wasn't as at a high enough level beforehand. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211780086

"That whole thing, the hangover of success and travel and then getting ready" for a game, Krzyzewski said. "The only way you do it is to do it. And our guys don't feel good about themselves right now. And that's good. Although they turned it around in the second half, they were in a position to lose the game and they responded, and they responded really well."“according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211780086

Matt Wilson scored 15 points and Tommy Funk added 12 for Army (1-1), and Funk hit back-to-back 3s to pull the Black Knights to 67-61 with just over 12 minutes left. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211780086

Reddish hit a driving layup, and he and Barrett each hit 3s on consecutive possessions to push the lead into double figures for good. Reddish added another 3 to stretch the lead to 78-61 with just over 9 minutes left, and the Blue Devils eventually went up by 20 on Williamson's stickback with less than 4 minutes to play. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211780086

Like Duke, Eastern Michigan won their previous game as they defeated Goshen.

The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team ran away with a 97-74 victory over Goshen College Sunday, Nov. 11 inside the Convocation Center to wrap its three-game homestand to start the 2018-19 season. “according to https://emueagles.com/news/2018/11/11/mens-basketball-mens-hoops-rolls-to-97-74-victory-over-goshen.aspx

The Eagles (3-0) used a balanced scoring attack to turn the Maple Leafs (1-4) aside, as the Green and White saw 14 of its 15 players reach the scoring column for the game. Redshirt senior Elijah Minnie (Pittsburgh, Pa.-Lincoln Park (Robert Morris)) led Eastern with 17 points, while redshirt junior Boubacar Toure (Dakar, Senegal-Phase One Academy (Grand Canyon)) and sophomores Malik Ellison (Flint, Mich.-Beecher), and Kevin McAdoo (Pontiac, Mich.-West Bloomfield) each scored 10. “according to https://emueagles.com/news/2018/11/11/mens-basketball-mens-hoops-rolls-to-97-74-victory-over-goshen.aspx

After building a 21-point halftime lead, the Eagles cruised past the Maple Leafs behind a dominant performance around the basket. EMU outscored GC 60-26 in the paint, while also holding the rebounding advantage 45-35. “according to https://emueagles.com/news/2018/11/11/mens-basketball-mens-hoops-rolls-to-97-74-victory-over-goshen.aspx

Senior James Thompson IV (Baton Rouge, La.-Parkview Baptist) grabbed nine boards in just 18 minutes to lead Eastern's efforts on the glass. Toure added seven of his own, while Minnie and senior Isaiah Green (Southfield, Mich.-Southfield (Lansing C.C.)) each chipped in five apiece. “according to https://emueagles.com/news/2018/11/11/mens-basketball-mens-hoops-rolls-to-97-74-victory-over-goshen.aspx

The game saw multiple players make their debuts for EMU, as sophomore Jalen King (Pasco, Wash.-Kings Academy), redshirt freshman Derek Ballard Jr. (Southfield, Mich.-Southfield-Lathrup), and freshman Andre Rafus Jr. (Baltimore, Md.-Reach Partnership at Lake Clifton) all cracked the scoring column for the first time in their young careers. “according to https://emueagles.com/news/2018/11/11/mens-basketball-mens-hoops-rolls-to-97-74-victory-over-goshen.aspx

Overall, Eastern shot 56.7 percent (38-of-67) from the floor for the game while holding Goshen to a 38.2 clip on 29-of-76 shooting. The Green and White had 21 assists, 10 steals, five blocks, and turned the Maple Leafs over 15 times. “according to https://emueagles.com/news/2018/11/11/mens-basketball-mens-hoops-rolls-to-97-74-victory-over-goshen.aspx

Tip-off is set for 7:00pm from Cameron Indoor Stadium. The game will be televised on the Regional Sports Network. “according to http://www.goduke.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=4200&SPID=1845&SPSID=22726