Duke vs Ohio State Gameday Live Blog
For the first time since 2019 … and the 145th week ever … Duke takes the floor as the No. 1 team in the nation.
The Blue Devils moved to the top spot with a win over Gonzaga last week and now head into a rare non-conference road game, in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge at Ohio State.
The Buckeyes are 4-2 on the year, with losses at Xavier and against Florida. Ohio State also has a top 25 win, over then No. 21 Seton Hall. Duke is 7-0, with wins over No. 1 Gonzaga and No. 10 Kentucky.
Duke is 19-3 all-time in the Challenge, including 6-2 on the road. Ohio State is 9-11, including a 5-5 record at home.
The Blue Devils were back to the drawing board, trying to find a way to keep star freshman Paolo Banchero in the game. Banchero and Wendell Moore both needed IVs due to cramping in the opening game against Kentucky, leading to a reevaluation of the players’ approach to nutrition and hydration.
Banchero again suffered from cramps against Gonzaga, missing a portion of the second half as he got another IV.
Ohio State will be missing three expected contributors. Sixth-year forward Seth Towns has not played yet this season after getting back surgery in the offseason. He’s not expected back on the floor until mid December at the soonest.
Fifth-year forward Justice Sueing is also out. He played in the first two games before an abdominal injury has sent him to the sideline. Eugene Brown III saw extended minutes in Sueing’s absence, but the sophomore suffered a concussion and has missed the last two games. He’s already been ruled out for tonight.
Your starters: Jeremy Roach, Trevor Keels, Paolo Banchero, Wendell Moore, Mark Williams
Your officials:
Bo Boroski, Courtney Green, Rob Riley
Roach with five early points as Duke trails 8-7 at the under 16. Ohio State hit four of its first five shots.
Shots starting to fall for Duke now after a slow start. 6-0 run ties the score at 13. Duke D has turned OSU over three times in the last 90 seconds.
Duke putting the pedal down. 12-2 run puts Blue Devils up 8.
Duke has 27 points. It's hit one three and two free throws. The other 22 points have all come in the paint.
A Banchero three on an offensive rebound ends an 0-for-6 drought for Duke. Blue Devils still up seven.
OSU struggling with turnovers. Liddell has three, Wheeler four.
Banchero hits a J to reach 10 points for the game. Picks up his second foul to send us to the under four. Duke leads 34-25.
Offensive foul is three on Banchero. Duke up 11 but he'll go to the bench.
Now Williams picks up his second foul. Moore also has two.
Duke with a 7-0 run over the final minute and a half to go up 43-29 at the break.
Theo John becomes the sixth Blue Devil with at least two fouls as we go to the under 16. Duke is up 53-42
And John picks up his third immediately after the time out.
After both teams go more than three minutes without scoring, OSU gets a quick 5-0 run to cut it to 53-47. Time out Duke.
Game has turned into a rock fight. Duke is 1 for the last 14, OSU 1 for last 7. Duke has hit 5 of 22 shots this half. Roach now has three fouls, Williams four
At the under 8, Duke leads 57-50. Six of the seven Blue Devils who have played 10 minutes have at least 2 fouls, as do five of the eight Buckeyes.
Ohio State is just 4-of-14 from the line or this could be an extremely tight game.
Ohio State asserting itself inside with Duke in foul trouble. OSU cuts it to 66-61 at the under four
OSU three pointer--they're 5-of-10 this half--cuts it to two
Banchero called for an offensive foul, his fourth.
Moore gets his fourth. OSU pulls ahead at the line. one minute to go
Banchero and Williams miss. Liddell hits. Banchero misses. OSU is going to pull the upset. 7
