LA VEGAS, Sporting Alert – Grayson Allen scored a career-high 34 points, including an exclamation put-back dunk in the second half, and No. 5 Duke whipped UNLV 94-45 in the first meeting between the two programs since 1991.
Allen went to work early and ended with 12 for 16 from the floor, while knocking down six of his nine 3-point attempts.
The preseason Player of the Year also shot a perfect 7 of 7 in the second half.
WATCH ALLEN HIGHLIGHTING DUNK
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The junior guard, who is recovering very well from his toe injury, scored 15 of his points in the first half and combined with Luke Kennard to score 26 on 10 of 20 shooting during the opening period.
Speaking to ESPN after the game, Allen, who also pulled down four rebounds and was energetic throughout the entire contest, confirmed that his toe injury is healing up very well.
“It’s a lot better now,” he told ESPN in an interview after the blowout win. “I’ve been getting a lot of rest during games and it’s getting closer and closer to 100 percent.”
Kennard added 16 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals and Jayson Tatum ended with 13 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals for the Blue Devils (10-1) who won eight in a row since the 77-75 defeat to Kansas on November 15.
Amile Jefferson finished with another double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds to go with five assists in the win the fifth-ranked team in the country.
Jalen Poyser scored 16 points for UNLV (5-4), which shot 16 of 54 from the floor for 30 percent.
The Rebels were outrebounded 40-29 and held to just six assists for the entire game.
Meanwhile, freshmen Harry Giles remained inactive for Duke, despite warming up again, and it is still unclear when he will make his debut.
The Blue Devils, who led by double-digits for most of the game, went into the halftime break leading 42-26.
Duke used an 18-0 run to stretch the lead to well over 30 points, as the ACC powerhouses held a 71-35 advantage with 10-minutes left in the second half.
Duke is inactive for nine days when it hosts Tennessee State on Dec. 19, while UNLV will look to bounce back on Wednesday when it entertains Incarnate Word.
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