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19 mbb at duke

No. 4 Duke Prevails in Men’s Basketball Exhibition Over FVSU

10/30/2019 11:16:00 PM

By: Chris Myers
DURHAM, N.C. – The crazies were out in full early-season force and the Wildcats battled the entire night. No. 4 Duke University showed its might and prevailed over Fort Valley State, 126-57, in a men's basketball exhibition contest.
 
The Blue Devils took control from the opening tip and dumped in the opening 17 points over the first 3:17. The Wildcats gained their footing and twice pulled to within 14 points, 24-10 and 26-12, on a Thomas Hardy fastbreak lay in and a Gregory Holloway put back. It was Duke's night from there as it used its size advantage and reach to take control for good.
 
"I thought it was a great experience. Again, since the age of 10 growing up on this campus, and having the chance now as an adult to bring my college team back into Cameron to play against a legendary coach like Coach K -- being a coach, what you want to give your guys are opportunities to grow and to have different experiences. And I think that this was a great experience that they will one day be able to tell their kids about, said FVSU head coach and Durham native Mark Sherrill.

A return home for Sherrill and one where he gave his Wildcats an experience on the biggest of collegiate basketball stages along with a great learning experience.

Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski on coach Sherrill, "Obviously, we're a much more talented team; not necessarily a team that works any harder than Fort Valley. Mark (Sherrill)'s starting to build a program there. It's his second year, we're proud of him. He's a Durham kid, to see where he's at is terrific."
 
On the night leading the visitors' effort, D'Angelo Strickland netted a team-high 10 points on 5 of 6 shooting and added three rebounds and three blocked shots.
19 mbb kv t duke
K'Viontae Williams drives to the hoop.
 

Freshman Tristan Davis chipped in nine points and two steals, while Malik Clark added eight points, including a pair of 3-pointers.
 
Coach Sherrill on his 2019-2020 team's first test and biggest test it will face all season, "I was actually looking for a little bit better fight, but I thought due to the circumstances -- a lot of guys, a lot of new faces, a lot of guys that were not proven -- they came in and tried their best, you know. We came up here for this opportunity, and I thought that they [Duke] came in, and I thought that Duke did a great job of taking us out of our offense. We were not able to run a good offense period, but that's a sign of the number four team in the nation, a good sign, and we actually caught them at a bad time."

Duke forced FVSU into a gaudy 36 turnover night, swiped 24 passes, and shot 61-percent from the floor (50 of 82).
 
Joey Baker downed six 3-pointers in eight attempts for the game-high 22 points off the home bench. Matthew Hurt had 19 points as the other high-point producer of the six other Blue Devils in double figures.
 
Sherrill and the Wildcats have a week off to prepare for their season-opening weekend beginning next Friday night, Nov. 8, against Valdosta State. Tip is set for 7 p.m. in Valdosta, Ga.
 
 
-Wildcats-
 
 
 
 
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