Guard returns from suspension to lead Duke

DURHAM -- Nolan Smith was brilliant.

Duke was, too.

Charlotte never had a chance as Smith celebrated his season debut with a career-high 24 points in a 101-59 rout at the hands of the ninth-ranked Blue Devils in the second round of the NIT Season Tip-Off at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Afterward, Smith talked as though Duke had fired a shot across the bow of a college basketball world that's stopped short of labeling the Blue Devils contenders for the Final Four.

"We wanted to show the world that we are going to play great defense, and we're a great team," Smith said, "and we deserve to be mentioned with the best, with the Kansases and all the teams they mention to win the national championship. We're a great team. We play great defense, and we can score."

Duke (3-0) advanced to the NIT semifinals at New York's Madison Square Garden. The Blue Devils will play the winner of the Arizona State-Texas Christian game that began at 11:30 p.m. Tuesday and ended after deadline for this edition. The NIT final is on Nov. 27.

Charlotte will learn the opponents and the location of its consolation-round bracket this morning. The 49ers have two games remaining in the tournament, on Monday and Tuesday of next week.

Smith, who was returning from a two-game NCAA suspension for playing in unsanctioned summer league games, asserted himself from the opening tip. He missed a short jumper on Duke's first possession. He committed a turnover on the next possession that led to two Shamari Spears free throws.

As Spears went to the foul line, Smith clapped his hands and shook his head. But he wasn't the least bit discouraged.

Over the next two and a half minutes, he scored eight points.

Soon, the Duke students were serenading him.

"No-lan Smith, welcome back," they chanted.

The 49ers (2-1), who were picked to finish seventh in the 14-team Atlantic 10, were overwhelmed. They trailed 35-15 after 10 minutes and 57-27 at halftime.

They committed 12 first-half turnovers against a Duke defense that exerted a lot more pressure with Smith added to the lineup. Just about everything that could have gone wrong did go wrong for Charlotte.

After Duke reserve Olek Czyz - who had never made a 3-pointer in his career - sank one from in front of the Blue Devils' bench midway through the second half, 49ers coach Bobby Lutz just shook his head and laughed.

Spears - who played in Cameron when he was at Boston College - scored 20 points, but none of his teammates scored more than six.

"Duke was very impressive tonight," Lutz said. "We're not happy with the way we played, but they imposed their will on us from the start."

While the 49ers struggled, Duke (3-0) had several players play their best games ever, statistically speaking.

In addition to his career-high points total, Smith tied a personal best with five assists.

Forward Miles Plumlee posted career highs of 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Center Brian Zoubek tied a career best with 13 rebounds.

Jon Scheyer didn't have a career-high statistic, but scored 20 points and handed out five assists and still hasn't committed a turnover in three games in the backcourt.

Kyle Singler, who teams with Scheyer and Smith on a formidable Duke perimeter, scored 17 points.

Smith said Scheyer and Singler both told him how happy they were to have him back.

"I wanted to play well and feed off of them," Smith said. "They have been playing great basketball, and they were looking for me."

Now it may be time for the rest of the nation to take a closer look at Duke.

No. 9, Duke 101, Charlotte 59

Three-point goals: 5-21, .238 (Lewis 1-1, Andersen 1-2, Sirin 1-2, Spears 1-3, Bowden 1-6, Church 0-1, Coleman 0-2, Green 0-4). Team rebounds: 2. Blocks: 0. Turnovers: 17 (Jones 4, Spears 3, Harris 3, Braswell 3, Green 2, Sherrill, Coleman). Steals: 4 (Green 2, Sherrill, Spears).

Three-point goals: 12-21, .571 (Scheyer 4-7, Singler 3-4, Smith 2-3, Czyz 1-2, Kelly 1-2, Dawkins 1-3). Team rebounds: 1. Blocks: 4 (Scheyer, Kelly, Mi.Plumlee, Singler). Turnovers: 9 (Smith 3, Mi.Plumlee 2, Dawkins, Zoubek, Davidson, Singler). Steals: 7 (Scheyer 2, Mi.Plumlee 2, Smith 2, Zoubek).

Att.-9,314. Officials-Bob Donato, Pat Driscoll, Mike Stuart.

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