Allen’s 26 helps lead Duke to 92-74 win over Siena in season opener
Grayson Allen had the look of Duke’s alpha male, rising above everyone on offense in the Blue Devils’ 92-74 win over Siena at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Allen scored 26 points on 8-of-13 (61.5 percent) shooting from the floor.
With just one starter (Matt Jones) back from April’s national championship game, the new-look Blue Devils used a 13-0 and 7-0 run in the first half to go into the locker room with a comfortable 44-27 lead at the break. Allen had 20 points in his 18-first half minutes, shooting an efficient 6-of-9 from the floor. The other six Blue Devils that saw action combined for 24 points on 8-of-24 (33.3 percent) shooting from the floor.
Duke started without a true point guard as Matt Jones, Brandon Ingram and Allen took turns with the ball-handling duties. Ingram, Duke’s highest-rated recruit, scored his first collegiate points off of a spin move-turned pull-up jumper from the free throw line. His 7-foot-3 wingspan will allow him to pull up and shoot over most defenders. Ingram finished with 15 points (5-of-16 from the floor) in 28 minutes.
Turning point
A 13-0 first half run turned a 15-13 deficit into a 26-15 lead. Derryck Thornton hit a 3, Amile Jefferson sank four free throws, Allen had a dunk and two free throws and Jones finished it off with a floater.
Three who mattered
Grayson Allen: The engine behind Duke’s offense with 26 points
Amile Jefferson: A productive 19 points and 12 rebounds
Brandon Ingram: Didn’t have his shooting touch, but a pair of blocks and steals indicates his disruptive potential
Three key numbers
8 Free throws attempted by Grayson Allen, who drove aggressively all night
8 Like usual, the magic number for Duke’s rotation. Derryck Thornton, Luke Kennard and Chase Jeter contribute off the bench
46 Combined fouls for both teams, as the referees attempt to clean up the game
This story was originally published November 13, 2015 at 9:09 PM with the headline "Allen’s 26 helps lead Duke to 92-74 win over Siena in season opener."