Then the Blue Devils stretched their range beyond the arc, gained rhythm that became almost musical and produced results that were mesmerizing at times.

They swished 15 3s -- including one "4" by DeMarcus Nelson -- an equation that perplexed Albany and propelled No. 6 undefeated Duke toward a 111-70 victory.

"Hit 15 out of 26 3s and life is good," said coach Mike Krzyzewski, who hopes for the same sharp shooting against unbeaten Pittsburgh on Thursday in Madison Square Garden.

Basketball life has seldom been as good this season as it was Monday for Nelson, who in wrestling terms, locked the Great Danes in a Full Nelson.

In perhaps his sharpest shooting effort, the irrepressible guard scored 23 points in 26 minutes, buried four of his five 3-point attempts and went 6-of-7 from the field overall.

Most memorable of those missiles came early when he knocked in a shot from behind the line, got knocked down, then got up and made a free throw to complete his "four-pointer."

Jon Scheyer, regarded as a sixth starter, came in with razzle, dazzle and a deadly touch to add 18 points. Sub Taylor King contributed 17, and Brian Zoubek, playing for injured Lance Thomas, collected 13 with a late flurry inside.

"We've got good shooters and play with patience and poise to get each other open,'' said Nelson, who also finds plenty of driving lanes in Duke's well-spaced offense. "I [just] try to make the play, whatever it is at the time."

Though much publicity has swirled around Duke's precocious freshmen, Krzyzewski said Nelson has been the Blue Devils' "most consistent excellent player."

And there is considerable excellence on this Duke team, which is 10 deep with a healthy Thomas, currently out with a sprained ankle and questionable against a physical Pitt team that Krzyzewski says will be one of the nation's better teams.

But back to Monday's game. In two different spurts, Scheyer was scintillating.

In the first half, he hit a 3, then drove the lane, spun through defenders for a lefty layup and capped the sequence with a behind-the-back assist pass that drew applause from Duke coaches.

In the second half, he scored 10 straight Blue Devils points with a mixture of moves and short-, mid- and long-range shots.

It was showtime; it was Scheyer Time.

If there was any rust on Duke after a nine-day break for exams, maybe it was free-throw shooting (20-of-34). Nelson was an uncharacteristic 7-of-13, and Zoubek was 3-of-8.

But Krzyzewski focused on the positive. "Overall, it was a good job; the kids played well,'' he said. "We got a lot out of this game. Nine guys played 20 or more minutes."

To prepare for Duke, Albany, of the America East Conference, practiced 5-on-7. But Great Danes coach Will Brown said "we should have practiced five against 10."

"They have so many weapons,'' said Brown, who got a 24-point effort from Tim Ambrose. "When they sub, there's no letdown."

Asked what he would tell his grandchildren about playing in storied Cameron Indoor Stadium, which rocked with the usual raucous atmosphere, Brown quipped: "That we held Duke to 111 points."