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DURHAM, N.C. (AP) -- Mike Krzyzewski knows No. 1 Duke doesn't
always live up to expectations. That was the case Saturday.
|  | | Duke's Jason Williams, who had 21 points, tangles with San Diego State's Brandon Smith. |
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."
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San Diego St. vs. Duke