Dec 29, 2001
By DAVID DROSCHAK
AP Sports Writer
DURHAM, N.C. - Mike Krzyzewski knows No. 1 Duke doesn't always live up to expectations. That was the case Saturday.
The Blue Devils looked rusty after an 11-day layoff but got a career-high 25 points from Mike Dunleavy and 21 from Jason Williams in a 92-79 victory over San Diego State.
A late run by the Aztecs gave the unbeaten and defending national champion Blue Devils evidence that their play can improve.
"At times people think we're just going to roll over people and it's not going to happen - at least not this team right now," Krzyzewski said.
Duke was up by 25 points in the second half before a 18-3 run by San Diego State made the score respectable.
The Blue Devils scored 90 or more points for the fourth straight game, but they allowed a season-high 53.2 percent shooting by the Aztecs, missed 14 foul shots and had 17 turnovers.
"We have to put the punch on teams when we've got them down by 20," said Carlos Boozer, who played just 21 minutes because of foul trouble. "We've got to finish off plays and we haven't done that to the extent that we're capable of doing."
Still, the Blue Devils (11-0), whose last game was a 95-92 overtime win against Kentucky on Dec. 18, remained one of five undefeated teams in the country. Their 21-game winning streak dating to last season ties the school's fourth-longest mark.
Randy Holcomb had 22 points and 15 rebounds for the Aztecs (7-4), while Tony Bland added 21 points.
"They gave us what we expected," Krzyzewski said. "They are an older team so they are going to look forward to playing against us, they're not going to be intimidated. This was a big thing for them and it should always be a big thing for us, too."
The last time San Diego State coach Steve Fisher was in Cameron Indoor Stadium was in December 1996, when his Michigan team beat the Blue Devils 62-61 on a last-second basket by Robert Traylor.
There was no upset this time for the Aztecs' third-year coach, who had a two-game winning streak against Duke.
"I was looking for Robert Traylor down the stretch because the last time I was in here he made a play that was helpful to us," Fisher said. "But unfortunately for us, he wasn't there."
San Diego State came in averaging 16.8 turnovers a game, but had 11 in the first half and finished with 24. At one stretch midway through the second period the Aztecs coughed it up on six straight possessions as Duke built the lead to more than 20.
Fisher's team stayed close for 22 minutes, trailing 47-41 before Duke went on a 22-10 run to build its lead to 69-51 with 11:57 left.
Dunleavy had a layup and 3-pointer in a 25-second span early in the spurt while Boozer, saddled with foul trouble all game, closed the run with a dunk that resulted in a three-point play.
"Dunleavy is so smart and good that he can make mismatches not become mismatches and turn them into turnovers," Fisher said.
After Duke went up 80-55, San Diego State made its run to close within 10 twice, the final time with 1:47 left.
"It's very dangerous to play with teams," Dunleavy said. "We've got to develop that killer instinct. It seems like we're always right there, one or two plays from really blowing things open.
"It's just going to take one performance, and we'll all know it. We've shown signs of it but it's got to be over 40 minutes."
Neither team led by more than five points in a close first half before the Blue Devils went on a late 14-0 run to grab a 46-35 halftime lead.
Duke played without reserve forward Casey Sanders, who had the flu, and the final 7:26 of the period without Boozer, who picked up three fouls. Boozer got his fourth 1:18 after halftime on a charge.
Still, the Blue Devils managed to break away from the Aztecs, who came in having won three games in a row and five of six, including a 15-point win over Fresno State.
Chris Duhon and Dunleavy began the first-half run with 3-pointers, but Duke struggled from the outside in the opening 20 minutes, going 6-for-20.
Dunleavy's previous best was 24 points, which he did three times.
"We didn't cry uncle when we were down 25," Fisher said. "We stayed competitive and yet you are paid to win and we came here with the thought if we played our very best basketball we had a chance to win. For us, we need to use this as a springboard.".