DURHAM — Duke had four players in double figures as the Blue Devils beat Army 82-56 in their home opener on Friday night.
The game was part of the Veterans Day Showcase, a four-team, two-day event Duke is hosting. The Blue Devils will return to the floor on Saturday night to play Campbell. It will be the third game in five days for Duke, and the team is showing signs of wear.
“I thought Paolo (Banchero) looked tired tonight,” Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said of his freshman big man. “There’s a lot going on with him.”
Banchero was one of several Blue Devils that struggled with cramps in Tuesday’s opener against Kentucky, and Krzyzewski said that he and Wendell Moore Jr. both needed IVs during that game.
Moore also struggled with cramps during the Army game, although that didn’t stop the junior from posting just the fifth triple-double in Duke history and first since RJ Barrett did it in 2018-19. Moore had team-highs in points (19) and assists (10) to go with 10 rebounds.
“I feel a lot more healthy, and that’s not just a physical standpoint,” Moore said. “It’s more a mental thing with me.”
Banchero had a double-double with 18 points and a team-high 12 boards.
Duke led most of the way but had trouble shaking free of Coach K’s alma mater as Army rallied to keep the lead to around 10 points through much of the second half.
Jeremy Roach hit a pair of threes midway through the second half to spur a Duke rally that helped produce the final margin.
