DURHAM, North Carolina -- Duke has mixed a tenacious
defense with a terrific home-court advantage to win eight of its
first nine games. The ninth-ranked Blue Devils try to extend the nation's longest
home-court winning streak against non-conference foes to 48 on
Saturday against George Mason. Playing a school-record 19 contests at Cameron Indoor Stadium
this season, Duke's streak against non-Atlantic Coast Conference
opponents became the country's best when Oklahoma lost at home
to Villanova on Wednesday, ending the Sooners' run at 49. The Blue Devils are limiting the opposition to 51.4 points and
36 percent (175-of-480) shooting from the floor, and have won
their last four contests after losing to Marquette at the CBE
Classic on November 21. Josh McRoberts and DeMarcus Nelson scored 13 points each for
Duke, which needed to rally from a six-point halftime deficit in
Wednesday's 57-45 victory over Holy Cross. Coming off last spring's surprise run to the Final Four of the
NCAA Tournament, George Mason has alternated wins and losses in
its first seven contests. Folarin Campbell and John Vaughn scored 21 points apiece and
Will Thomas added 16 with 10 rebounds for the Patriots in
Wednesday's 62-60 triumph over Radford. The teams have not faced each other since Duke posted a 90-79
victory over George Mason on January 3, 1981. Blue Devils coach
Mike Krzyzewski has won all 21 meetings against Colonial
Athletic Association squads while at Duke.
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