Three takeaways No. 16 Duke basketball blowout win Queens Saturday

Duke regained a key player from injury and collected a lopsided win Saturday. Freshman guard Jared McCain scored 24 points.

With 2024 just around the corner and ACC play on the horizon, Duke's No. 16 team saw the return of an injured player and secured a dominant win on Saturday.

Sophomore guard Tyrese Proctor made his comeback from a sprained ankle, helping the Blue Devils to a resounding 106-69 victory over Queens at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Freshman guard Jared McCain led the scoring charge with 24 points, marking the third time in the last four games that he has surpassed the 20-point mark. He has been averaging an impressive 19.8 points per game and has maintained a 60.1% shooting percentage over this stretch.

Preseason All-American Kyle Filipowski contributed 19 points, while Caleb Foster and Mark Mitchell added 13 and 10 points, respectively. Duke, with a record of 9-3, shot an impressive 58.8% from the field, outclassing Queens (6-9).

Despite Queens' Deyton Albury scoring 23 points, Duke's solid defense and ball protection allowed them to maintain control. With four weeks having passed since Proctor's injury, the 6-5 guard returned to the game and played 18 minutes, scoring nine points and recording four assists.

In addition to Proctor's return, Filipowski shone defensively, setting a career high with five blocked shots in the game. Duke's ball protection has been a consistent strength, as they entered the game with the fourth fewest turnovers per game in the nation and maintained this trend with just nine turnovers against Queens.

As Duke prepares to face Syracuse in their upcoming ACC matchup, the team's performance against Queens has showcased their strength and determination as they look ahead to the challenges of the new year.