Deng Leads Duke Past Pacific, 82-69

Luol Deng has quickly established himself as one of the best freshmen in the nation.

Deng scored 20 points and had 10 rebounds and Daniel Ewing had 20 points as No. 2 Duke posted an 82-69 victory over Pacific in the first round of the Great Alaska Shootout Thursday night at Anchorage.

Deng, a London native, was considered the nation’s best freshman after he signed to play for Coach Mike Krzyzewski.

The 6-foot-8 forward has done nothing to disappoint, scoring 20 points for the second game in a row

Krzyzewski passed legendary UCLA coach John Wooden with his 665th career victory, good for 17th place on the all-time NCAA Division I list.

Duke (2-0) placed five players in double figures. J.J. Redick scored 11 of his 13 points in the first half.

The Blue Devils will meet Liberty in tonight’s semifinals.

They are seeking to win the event for the second time, having won it in 1995.

Miah Davis led Pacific (1-1) with 24 points.

Liberty 65, Canisius 48 -- Larry Blair’s three-point basket started a 17-4 run that gave the Flames (1-2) a 51-34 lead with 6:58 left in a first-round game of the Great Alaska Shootout.

The Golden Griffins (1-1) didn’t attempt a free throw in the first half and didn’t make one until the 3:37 mark in the second half.

Canisius took a 14-9 lead in the first half on a basket by Darnell Wilson. But David Dees scored all eight of his points during a 15-5 run that put the Flames ahead, 24-19, with 6:30 left.

Seton Hall 62, Alaska Anchorage 57 -- The Pirates (2-0) nearly blew a 20-point lead when the Division II Seawolves closed to within 58-57 on a three-point basket by Kemmy Burgess with 1:43 left late Wednesday night in the first round of the Great Alaska Shootout.

But Seton Hall’s John Allen rebounded a miss and scored, and the Seawolves (3-1) could manage only a desperation three-point shot with four seconds remaining. Andre Barrett made two free throws for the final margin.

Purdue 61, Texas State 50 -- The Boilermakers used an 18-3 run early in the second half to take control of the fourth and final opening round game of the Great Alaska Shootout early Thursday morning.

Purdue (2-0) trailed, 34-31, four minutes into the second half when it started the decisive run. The Bobcats (1-2) were held to three free throws for over eight minutes as the Boilermakers took a 47-37 lead with 8:05 left.