Eastern Michigan (3-1) had the opening bucket of the contest and held the lead for 18 seconds, the longest by any opponent this season against Duke (3-0). Duke, which entered the contest averaging 106 points per game, answered quickly and often with the help of 21 points off turnovers in the opening 20 minutes.
Junior Damari Parris and sophomore Kevin McAdoo each scored nine points to lead EMU on the night. Senior James Thompson chipped in six points and seven rebounds, as EMU finished the night shooting 30.9 percent (21-of-68).
Duke placed four players in double figures, led by 21 points from Zion Williamson and 20 from RJ Barrett. The nation's top-ranked club was 46.8 percent (36-of-77) from the floor, with 60 of their points coming in the lane.
The meeting was just the third on the hardwood for the two programs. EMU won the first matchup in the opening round of the 1996 NCAA Tournament, with No. 9 seed EMU prevailing by a final score of 75-60. The Blue Devils won the only other tilt, 82-59, Dec. 28, 2013.
The Blue Devils built a quick edge to open the contest. Aided by seven EMU turnovers over the first eight minutes, Duke built the advantage thanks to 13 points off EMU miscues. A dunk by Boubacar Toure and then a layup by Ty Groce pulled the Eagles back within 14, 21-7, with 11:56 to go in the half.
Turnovers and 1-of-10 shooting helped Duke up the edge to 46-9 with 3:28 remaining before half. Elijah Minnie's runner in the lane with 43 seconds still showing closed out the first half scoring as EMU headed to the locker room.
Eastern was just 6-for-28 (21.4 percent) in the opening 20 minutes, while the Blue Devils were 20-of-35 (57.1 percent) Williamson and Barrett each had 12.
Scoring picked up quickly for Eastern in the second half with buckets by Thompson as well as scores from Paul Jacksonand Parris. After just six makes in the opening 20 minutes, EMU had seven field goals in the first eight minutes of the second half.
Despite the offensive uptick for EMU, Duke's offense continued to shine thanks to Williamson's strong inside presence.
EMU lost the second half scoring margin by just 3, 36-33, thanks largely en part to only turning the ball over six times in the frame.
Eastern Michigan returns home Saturday, Nov. 17, to take of Boston University at the Convocation Center. The contest is the second leg of a doubleheader with the women's team hosting Illinois State University at noon with the men's game to follow approximately 30 minutes later.