Hurt, Jones help No. 2 Duke beat Boston College 88-49 in ACC
By AARON BEARD - Dec. 31, 2019 08:07 PM EST
Duke forward Javin DeLaurier (12) amd Boston College forward Steffon Mitchell (41) chase the ball during the first half of an NCAA basketball game in Durham, N.C., Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
Duke forward Javin DeLaurier (12) amd Boston College forward Steffon Mitchell (41) chase the ball during the first half of an NCAA basketball game in Durham, N.C., Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
Duke center Vernon Carey Jr. dunks against Boston College during the first half of an NCAA basketball game in Durham, N.C., Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
Duke guard Tre Jones (3) shoots while Boston College forward CJ Felder (0) and forward Steffon Mitchell defend during the first half of an NCAA basketball game in Durham, N.C., Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
Duke forward Matthew Hurt reaches for the ball between Boston College forwards CJ Felder and Steffon Mitchell, right, during the first half of an NCAA basketball game in Durham, N.C., Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
Boston College coach Jim Christian directs his players during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Duke in Durham, N.C., Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
Duke guard Alex O'Connell (15) passes around Boston College guard Derryck Thornton (11) and forward CJ Felder (0) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Durham, N.C., Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
Duke center Vernon Carey Jr. and Boston College forward Jairus Hamilton (1) fall to the floor while chasing the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Durham, N.C., Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski speaks with an official during the first half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against Boston College in Durham, N.C., Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
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DURHAM, N.C. (AP) —

Freshman Matthew Hurt scored 20 of his season-high 25 points before halftime and Tre Jones returned from a foot injury to help second-ranked Duke beat Boston College 88-49 on Tuesday night.

Hurt made 10 of 16 shots and was 5 of 10 on 3-pointers to lead the Blue Devils, who shot nearly 52% and hit their last five shots of the first half as they blew the game open shortly before the break. Duke (12-1, 2-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) also had little trouble clamping down with its defensive pressure on a BC offense that came in ranked among the least efficient attacks in the country.

Jones had missed the past two games for the Blue Devils with what was described as a mild sprain of his left foot, but finished with a game-high 10 assists.

CJ Felder scored 13 points for the Eagles (8-6, 2-1), who had won four straight games coming in to Cameron Indoor Stadium. But they never mounted much of a response to Duke’s defensive pressure that turned away driving lanes and forced BC to settle for tough looks.

BC shot just 34% and made 3 of 18 3-pointers, including a six-minute stretch in the first half without a basket that helped Duke stretch out its lead. Hurt and the Blue Devils closed out the half in a flurry, ending when Jones found Hurt alone in the corner to bury a 3 just before the halftime horn.

By that point, Hurt -- who held his release to mark the make -- had matched his season-high scoring output and outscored BC 20-19 in the opening half.

BIG PICTURE

Boston College: BC fell to Duke for the 13th time in 14 meetings and is 0-11 all-time in Cameron. It was also a rough return for Derryck Thornton, who started his college career with a year at Duke before transferring to USC and ultimately ending up at BC as a graduate transfer. He came in averaging a team-best 13.8 points but finished with six points on 3-for-12 shooting while also leaving briefly in the first half with a right-leg injury.

Duke: The Blue Devils had two positive developments in this one. First was the return of Jones, a welcome sign for a team that needs his on-floor leadership and on-ball defensive pressure. Then there was Hurt, who got plenty of time to set his feet and get comfortable on some of those lead-stretching shots. The result was Duke earning its 300th victory of the decade (dating to January 2010) and its 899th all-time victory at its famously hostile home arena.

UP NEXT

Boston College: The Eagles host No. 19 Virginia next Tuesday.

Duke: The Blue Devils visit Miami on Saturday night.

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