Bucknell University
9-3
Duke
13-0
Bucknell Basketball Falls at Top-Ranked Duke 84-50
1/2/2006 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 2, 2006
DURHAM, N.C. - Bucknell's first-ever game against a No. 1-ranked team resulted in an 84-50 setback at Duke Monday afternoon at sold-out Cameron Indoor Stadium. Shelden Williams recorded his fourth straight double-double with 23 points and 11 rebounds, while reigning national player of the year J.J. Redick scored 22 to help Duke improved to 13-0.
Chris McNaughton scored 15 points and freshman Jason Vegotsky came off the bench to score 12 points on four three-pointers for the Bison, who have lost two straight for the first time this season and fell to 9-3 overall.
Duke hit the Bison with 13-0 runs in both halves, the first of which staked the Blue Devils to a quick 17-2 lead. Duke's first three buckets of the night came on dunks, and Redick and Lee Melchionni canned back-to-back 3-pointers to complete the run.
McNaughton scored Bucknell's first six points and had 10 at the half, but Duke held a commanding 42-19 lead at the break.
Bucknell came out of the locker room hot, scoring the first nine points to pull within 14 at 42-28. Charles Lee opened the half with a 3-pointer and transition layup, McNaughton hit 1 of 2 free throws, and after an offensive rebound on the second, Kevin Bettencourt hit a 3-pointer.
But the Blue Devils countered with Williams, a probable All-American in the low post. Williams scored six straight to spark Duke's second 13-point spurt. By the time Sean Dockery converted a 3-point play at the 13:29 mark, the Blue Devils had stretched their lead to 27 at 55-28.
Duke led by as many as 35 on two occasions, the first at 76-41 after Dockery's jumper capped a 13-2 run.
McNaughton entered the game ranked second nationally in field-goal percentage at 69.2 percent but was held to 4-for-11 shooting. He did convert 7 of 8 from the line to reach his season scoring average of 15 points. Vegotsky was another bright spot for the Bison, making 4 of 5 3-point attempts for 12 points in 12 minutes.
Charles Lee added eight points, eight rebounds and three steals for the Bison, who completed a three-game, nine-day road trip. Bucknell shot 30.9 percent from the field and made 7 of 20 3-point tries.
Duke shot 54.2 percent from the floor but struggled from long range. The Blue Devils were 4-for-19 from beyond the arc, with Redick, the team's all-time leading 3-point shooter making just 2 of 11. Josh McRoberts also had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Dockery was the fourth Blue Devil in double figures with 10 points, eight rebounds, five assists and four steals.
The highest-ranked team the Bison had faced prior to Duke was third-ranked Michigan State in the 2002-03 season opener. Bucknell and Duke were meeting for the first time since 1984, and Duke now holds a 3-0 series lead.
Bucknell opens its 16th season of Patriot League play when it travels to Navy on Saturday.
