November 26, 1998
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) – Notre Dame kept pace with top-ranked Duke just long enough for the Blue Devils to warm up its long-distance shooters.
William Avery scored 22 and Trajan Langdon added 20 Thursday night as Duke overwhelmed the Irish, 111-82, in an opening-round game of the Great Alaska Shootout.
Avery hit six 3-pointers and Langdon, who grew up in Anchorage, went 4-for-4 behind the arc. Freshman Corey Maggette came off the bench to add 20 for the Blue Devils (4-0), who coasted after taking a 28-point halftime lead.
The Blue Devils will play Fresno State, which beat Alaska-Anchorage 82-79, in Friday’s semifinals.
Duke led 10-8 five minutes into the game before going on a 22-10 run. The Blue Devils closed the half with a 25-8 tear to make it 62-34 at the break. Duke shot 71 percent from the floor in the first half, including 12-of-13 from 3-point range.
Avery had 19 of his points in the half and Langdon, whose introduction at the start of the game set off a raucous ovation, had 14.
“I think they had 15 straight possessions on which they scored,” Notre Dame coach John MacLeod said. “I’ve never seen a run like that.”
Elton Brand scored 14 points and Taymon Domzalski contributed 10 points for the Blue Devils, who led by as much 38 points. Duke finished the game shooting 64 percent from the floor, including 15-for-20 on 3-pointers.
“Our shooting was amazing tonight,” Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said.
Freshmen Harold Swanagan scored 17 and David Graves had 16 for the Irish (1-3), who fell far behind early despite shooting 48 percent on the night. Phil Hickey had 13, Antoni Wyche scored 11 and a third freshman, Troy Murphy, chipped in with 10 points for Notre Dame.
A pair of dunks by Murphy gave Notre Dame a 6-3 lead in the game’s opening minutes, but two foul shots by Avery and a Taymon Domzalski hook put the Blue Devils up for good.
By T.A. BADGER
Associated Press Writer