SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — Jahlil Okafor had 23 points and 13 rebounds for his ninth double-double of the season, outplaying Syracuse big man Rakeem Christmas as No. 4 Duke beat the Orange 80-72 on Saturday night.
Duke (22-3, 9-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) won its fifth straight and withstood a standout performance from ex-Blue Devil Michael Gbinije, who scored a career-high 27 points for Syracuse.
Syracuse (16-9, 7-5) had exhibited plenty of grit in the two games since a postseason ban was announced as the school awaits the results of an NCAA investigation into the athletic department. The Orange had lost at Pittsburgh and won at Boston College.