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BASKETBALL

The Homestand Continues For Duke As They Host Yale

On Saturday evening Duke’s homestand continues as they host Yale.

Duke who is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference comes into the game with a record of 8-1 while Yale who is a member of the Ivy League comes into the game with a record of 4-2.

As for Duke’s previous game, they defeated Harvard.

Freshman RJ Barrett had 27 points and a season-best 15 rebounds, and No. 3 Duke pulled away to rout Hartford 84-54 on Wednesday night. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211783058&DB_OEM_ID=4200&_ga=2.131459913.796603104.1544106984-270977549.1544106984

Zion Williamson added 18 points and 12 rebounds, and Tre Jones and Javin Delaurier finished with 10 points apiece to help the Blue Devils (8-1) win their third straight. Duke shot 62 percent in the second half to more than make up for hitting just five 3-pointers -- matching a season low. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211783058&DB_OEM_ID=4200&_ga=2.131459913.796603104.1544106984-270977549.1544106984

J.R. Lynch scored 13 points and Jason Dunne added 12 for Hartford (3-7), a 38-point underdog that hung around well into the second half before fading. Dunne's long 3-pointer pulled the Hawks within eight points with just over 12 minutes left. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211783058&DB_OEM_ID=4200&_ga=2.131459913.796603104.1544106984-270977549.1544106984

Williamson then hit two free throws, Jack White followed with a steal and dunk and Cameron Reddish -- who had missed all six of his 3-pointers to that point -- buried a 3 in transition to give the Blue Devils their largest lead to that point at 54-39. Duke rolled from there for its fifth blowout in five home games. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211783058&DB_OEM_ID=4200&_ga=2.131459913.796603104.1544106984-270977549.1544106984

Like Duke, Yale won their previous game as they defeated Lehigh.

The wait for the home opener proved well worth it for the Bulldogs. Trey Phills and Miye Oni each scored 20 points to lead six in double figures as Yale knocked off Lehigh 97-87 at the John J. Lee Amphitheater. “according to http://www.yalebulldogs.com/sports/m-baskbl/2018-19/releases/20181205w3e6hh

Blake Reynolds (12 points, 10 rebounds) added a double-double, while Jordan Bruner (13), Alex Copeland (11) and Azar Swain (10) also were in double figures. “according to http://www.yalebulldogs.com/sports/m-baskbl/2018-19/releases/20181205w3e6hh

Jordan Cohen paced Lehigh with 21 points, and Lance Tejada added 19. “according to http://www.yalebulldogs.com/sports/m-baskbl/2018-19/releases/20181205w3e6hh

The game featured two of the top three-point shooting teams in the nation, and it lived up to the billing. The teams combined to make 26 treys. “according to http://www.yalebulldogs.com/sports/m-baskbl/2018-19/releases/20181205w3e6hh

The first half was a shooting clinic, The Mountain Hawks were 9-of-13 from downtown, while the Bulldogs made 9-of-21. The result was a 51-51 tie after 20 minutes. “according to http://www.yalebulldogs.com/sports/m-baskbl/2018-19/releases/20181205w3e6hh

In the second half, Yale held Lehigh 34 percent shooting from the field and outscored the Mountain Hawks 46-36. “according to http://www.yalebulldogs.com/sports/m-baskbl/2018-19/releases/20181205w3e6hh

"Defensively we picked it up and guarded a little better, and that made all the difference," said James Jones, The Joel E. Smilow, Class of 1954 Head Coach of the Bulldogs. “according to http://www.yalebulldogs.com/sports/m-baskbl/2018-19/releases/20181205w3e6hh

Trailing 64-63 early in the second half, Yale scored nine straight points to seize control. Lehigh got back within two, 73-71 with 7 minutes remaining, but the Bulldogs answered with a 13-2 run. From there, Yale's lead grew to as many as 16 in the final minute. “according to http://www.yalebulldogs.com/sports/m-baskbl/2018-19/releases/20181205w3e6hh

Once again there were a number of contributors for the Bulldogs, including sophomore Jalen Gabbidon, who had six points on a pair of three-pointers in his 10 minutes off the bench. Gabbidon missed all of last season with an injury. “according to http://www.yalebulldogs.com/sports/m-baskbl/2018-19/releases/20181205w3e6hh

"Jalen was tremendous tonight," Jones said. "What's interesting is we have a bunch of other guys on the bench waiting their turn to come in and do the same thing." “according to http://www.yalebulldogs.com/sports/m-baskbl/2018-19/releases/20181205w3e6hh

Paul Atkinson also had a strong game off the bench, scoring five points and grabbing seven rebounds in 20 minutes. “according to http://www.yalebulldogs.com/sports/m-baskbl/2018-19/releases/20181205w3e6hh

The double-double was the second at Yale for Reynolds, who had 14 points and 11 rebounds last year vs. St. Bonaventure. “according to http://www.yalebulldogs.com/sports/m-baskbl/2018-19/releases/20181205w3e6hh

Reynolds and Bruner combined for 25 points and 18 rebounds in the post. “according to http://www.yalebulldogs.com/sports/m-baskbl/2018-19/releases/20181205w3e6hh

"Jordan is a great energy guy to have. Me and him feed off each other really well," Reynolds said.”according to http://www.yalebulldogs.com/sports/m-baskbl/2018-19/releases/20181205w3e6hh

NOTES: Yale has now won its last nine straight home openers… The Bulldogs outrebounded Lehigh 43-28… Oni finished with an impressive line of 20 points, six rebounds and eight assists in 36 minutes. He was 8-of-14 from the field… The Bulldogs finished with 21 assists on their 33 field goals… Prior to tonight, Yale was one of only three Division I schools in the nation that had yet to play a home game. Arkansas Pine Bluff and Prairie View A&M were the others… Yale was the second Ivy League opponent for the Mountain Hawks, who beat Princeton 72-57 on Nov. 16… The Bulldogs can now turn their attention to No. 3 Duke. Yale meets the Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPN. “according to http://www.yalebulldogs.com/sports/m-baskbl/2018-19/releases/20181205w3e6hh

Tip-off is set for 5:30pm from Cameron Indoor Stadium. The game will be televised on ESPN.