Griffin hits 5 3s, No. 6 Duke beats Syracuse 79-59
AP
Jan 22, 2022
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) AJ Griffin attempted 10 shots Saturday, nine of them from behind the arc. If Duke Blue Devils coach Mike Krzyzewski had his way, Griffin would've put up even more.
''AJ is our best shooter. I'd really like for him to be even more aggressive,'' Krzyzewski said. ''He's a key guy, there's no question about it. Every guy on our team has complete confidence in him.''
Griffin hit five 3-pointers - the most by a Duke player this season - and the sixth-ranked Blue Devils routed visiting Syracuse Orange 79-59.
''We're more connected on the offensive end with balanced scoring,'' Krzyzewski said. ''There were a couple of really good minutes of outstanding offense. It looked like the (Carolina) Hurricanes playing. There were a lot of hockey assists.''
Griffin was one of four players for Duke (15-3, 5-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) with 15 points, joining Paolo Banchero, Wendell Moore Jr. and Mark Williams. Banchero had 13 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season. Jeremy Roach added 11 points.
Jesse Edwards led Syracuse (9-10, 3-5) with 12 points and nine rebounds. Jimmy Boeheim also had 12 points.
Griffin swished 3-pointers on his first two shots to spark Duke's 11-2 run out of the gate. Syracuse surged back with a 13-5 stretch but never took the lead from Duke.
A 24-11 run from the Blue Devils to start the second half extended their lead to 27. Moore tallied 10 points during that span. Duke grew its lead to 31 points during the second half.
Saturday marked the 16th meeting between Krzyzewski and Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim, who are 1-2 atop the career wins list among Division I men's basketball coaches. Krzyzewski leads the head-to-head series 11-5.
''We're really good friends, and that's separate from basketball. When we come here, we want to win,'' Boeheim said of facing Krzyzewski for the last time at Cameron Indoor Stadium. ''There's so many good memories, on the court, but more than many off the court.''
Duke hit 14 of 37 3-pointers (37.8%).
BIG PICTURE
Duke: The Blue Devils bounced back from their loss to Florida State in an emphatic way, beating Syracuse in nearly every facet of the game. The Blue Devils were efficient in sharing the ball, too, totaling 25 assists on 30 made field goals for an 83% assist percentage, its best mark of the season.
''We have great players all over the floor,'' Banchero said. ''Everyone trusts each other to make shots, so we're never hesitant to pass it for open looks.''
Syracuse: The Orange have lost five of their last seven games and their hopes of earning Boeheim another NCAA tournament berth are dwindling. Syracuse made just five 3-pointers, tied for its lowest of the season.
KEEL OUT, ROACH RESPONDS
Freshman guard Trevor Keels did not play for Duke as he recovers from a leg injury he suffered against Florida State. Krzyzewski said the injury shouldn't be ''long-term.''
In-place of Keels, sophomore Jeremy Roach started after three games of coming off the bench. He responded by dishing out a career-high nine assists, along with six points and three rebounds.
STAT OF THE NIGHT
Duke held Syracuse to 17.2% shooting from behind the arc. The Blue Devils have held seven straight opponents - and 13 on the season - to 30% or worse from 3-point range. Duke entered the game ranking 41st nationally and second in the ACC in 3-point defense, allowing opponents to shoot just 29.7% from deep this season.
Buddy Boeheim, the Orange's leading scorer (19.2) was 2 of 15, including 1 of 10 from behind the arc. Joe Girard, who entered the game leading the ACC in 3-point shooting at 45.5% and was tied for the conference lead with 51 made 3s, was 1 of 9 from deep. Each scored seven points.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Duke finishes the week 1-1. The Blue Devils weren't the only ranked team that lost this week though, as No. 8 Wisconsin and No. 4 Purdue were also among those who suffered defeats. Duke will likely be part of a reshuffling in the next poll.
UP NEXT
Duke: Remaining at home, the Blue Devils host Clemson on Tuesday.
Syracuse: The Orange stay on the road, playing at Pitt on Tuesday.
---
More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/College-basketball and http://www.twitter.com/AP-Top25
Copyright 2025 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
1st Half
SYR
Orange
22
DUKE
Blue Devils
36
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Jesse Edwards vs. Mark Williams (Joseph Girard III gains possession)
19:52
Cole Swider turnover (lost ball) (AJ Griffin steals)
19:29
+3
AJ Griffin makes three point jump shot (Wendell Moore Jr. assists)
0-3
18:59
Jesse Edwards turnover (Paolo Banchero steals)
18:51
Wendell Moore Jr. misses three point jump shot
18:49
Paolo Banchero offensive rebound
18:40
+3
AJ Griffin makes three point jump shot (Paolo Banchero assists)
0-6
18:10
Buddy Boeheim misses three point jump shot
18:08
Jesse Edwards offensive rebound
18:07
Jesse Edwards turnover (out of bounds)
17:45
+2
Mark Williams makes two point layup (Jeremy Roach assists)
0-8
17:31
+2
Joseph Girard III makes two point jump shot
2-8
17:13
Jesse Edwards shooting foul (Paolo Banchero draws the foul)
17:13
Paolo Banchero misses regular free throw 1 of 2
17:13
+1
Paolo Banchero makes regular free throw 2 of 2
2-9
17:09
Joseph Girard III misses two point jump shot
17:07
Mark Williams defensive rebound
17:09
+2
Mark Williams makes two point layup (Wendell Moore Jr. assists)
2-11
16:38
Joseph Girard III turnover
16:38
Orange 30 second timeout
16:24
Wendell Moore Jr. misses three point jump shot
16:22
Joseph Girard III defensive rebound
16:14
Cole Swider misses three point jump shot
16:12
Mark Williams defensive rebound
16:06
Paolo Banchero turnover (traveling)
15:57
Buddy Boeheim misses three point jump shot
15:55
Paolo Banchero defensive rebound
15:42
Paolo Banchero turnover (bad pass)
15:42
TV timeout
15:24
Jimmy Boeheim misses two point jump shot
15:22
Jesse Edwards offensive rebound
15:20
+2
Jesse Edwards makes two point dunk
4-11
15:06
Jeremy Roach misses three point jump shot
15:03
Blue Devils offensive rebound
15:01
Jeremy Roach misses three point jump shot
14:59
AJ Griffin offensive rebound
14:39
Blue Devils turnover (shot clock violation)
14:26
Theo John shooting foul (Cole Swider draws the foul)
14:26
+1
Cole Swider makes regular free throw 1 of 2
5-11
14:26
+1
Cole Swider makes regular free throw 2 of 2
6-11
14:04
Jesse Edwards blocks Paolo Banchero's two point jump shot
14:02
Joseph Girard III defensive rebound
13:56
Joseph Girard III misses three point jump shot
13:54
Paolo Banchero defensive rebound
13:37
+3
Joey Baker makes three point jump shot (Paolo Banchero assists)
6-14
13:12
Buddy Boeheim misses two point jump shot
13:10
Cole Swider offensive rebound
13:05
Joseph Girard III misses three point jump shot
13:03
Wendell Moore Jr. defensive rebound
12:41
Joey Baker turnover (out of bounds)
12:24
Jimmy Boeheim misses two point layup
12:22
Theo John defensive rebound
12:16
AJ Griffin misses three point jump shot
12:14
Joseph Girard III defensive rebound
12:05
Joseph Girard III turnover (lost ball) (Joey Baker steals)
11:57
Blue Devils turnover (bad pass)
11:57
TV timeout
11:43
Buddy Boeheim turnover (lost ball) (Wendell Moore Jr. steals)
11:39
+2
Wendell Moore Jr. makes two point layup (Bates Jones assists)
6-16
11:20
Wendell Moore Jr. personal foul (Jesse Edwards draws the foul)
11:14
+2
Symir Torrence makes two point jump shot
8-16
10:54
Joey Baker misses two point jump shot
10:52
Cole Swider defensive rebound
10:38
+2
Jesse Edwards makes two point jump shot (Jimmy Boeheim assists)
10-16
10:09
Wendell Moore Jr. misses two point jump shot
10:07
Jesse Edwards defensive rebound
9:59
Symir Torrence misses two point jump shot
9:58
Jimmy Boeheim offensive rebound
9:58
Bates Jones personal foul (Jimmy Boeheim draws the foul)
9:42
Jimmy Boeheim misses two point jump shot
9:40
Wendell Moore Jr. defensive rebound
9:30
AJ Griffin misses three point jump shot
9:28
Mark Williams offensive rebound
9:22
Mark Williams turnover (bad pass) (Joseph Girard III steals)
9:17
+3
Jimmy Boeheim makes three point jump shot (Symir Torrence assists)
13-16
8:54
Jeremy Roach turnover (Joseph Girard III steals)
8:49
Jimmy Boeheim misses three point jump shot
8:47
Jeremy Roach defensive rebound
8:29
Mark Williams turnover (bad pass) (Buddy Boeheim steals)
8:20
Buddy Boeheim misses three point jump shot
8:18
Jeremy Roach defensive rebound
8:09
Jeremy Roach misses three point jump shot
8:06
Orange defensive rebound
7:47
+2
Jesse Edwards makes two point dunk (Joseph Girard III assists)
15-16
7:30
+2
Paolo Banchero makes two point layup (Wendell Moore Jr. assists)
15-18
7:19
Jesse Edwards misses two point layup
7:17
Mark Williams defensive rebound
6:57
+2
Mark Williams makes two point layup (Jeremy Roach assists)
15-20
6:57
Jesse Edwards shooting foul (Mark Williams draws the foul)
6:57
TV timeout
6:57
+1
Mark Williams makes regular free throw 1 of 1
15-21
6:41
Frank Anselem turnover (traveling)
6:30
+3
AJ Griffin makes three point jump shot (Wendell Moore Jr. assists)
15-24
6:14
+3
Joseph Girard III makes three point jump shot (Symir Torrence assists)
18-24
5:56
+3
AJ Griffin makes three point jump shot (Paolo Banchero assists)
18-27
5:35
Joseph Girard III misses three point jump shot
5:33
Frank Anselem offensive rebound
5:30
+2
Frank Anselem makes two point dunk
20-27
5:25
Jeremy Roach misses two point jump shot
5:23
Frank Anselem defensive rebound
5:16
Buddy Boeheim misses three point jump shot
5:14
Jimmy Boeheim offensive rebound
5:11
Jimmy Boeheim misses two point jump shot
5:09
Mark Williams defensive rebound
4:52
+3
Jeremy Roach makes three point jump shot (Paolo Banchero assists)
20-30
4:26
Joseph Girard III misses three point jump shot
4:24
Paolo Banchero defensive rebound
4:17
Jeremy Roach misses three point jump shot
4:15
Buddy Boeheim defensive rebound
4:03
Buddy Boeheim misses three point jump shot
4:01
Paolo Banchero defensive rebound
3:43
AJ Griffin turnover (out of bounds)
3:43
TV timeout
3:27
Cole Swider misses three point jump shot
3:25
Paolo Banchero defensive rebound
3:02
Theo John misses two point alley-oop dunk
3:00
Bourama Sidibe defensive rebound
2:42
Symir Torrence misses two point jump shot
2:40
Paolo Banchero defensive rebound
2:28
Bourama Sidibe shooting foul (Paolo Banchero draws the foul)
2:27
Paolo Banchero misses regular free throw 1 of 2
2:27
+1
Paolo Banchero makes regular free throw 2 of 2
20-31
2:15
+2
Symir Torrence makes two point layup
22-31
1:59
+3
Joey Baker makes three point jump shot (Wendell Moore Jr. assists)
22-34
1:40
Joseph Girard III misses three point jump shot
1:38
Joseph Girard III offensive rebound
1:35
AJ Griffin blocks Joseph Girard III's three point jump shot
1:33
AJ Griffin defensive rebound
1:26
Blue Devils 30 second timeout
1:07
Paolo Banchero misses two point jump shot
1:05
Benny Williams defensive rebound
0:55
Benny Williams misses two point jump shot
0:53
Jeremy Roach defensive rebound
0:42
+2
Mark Williams makes two point alley-oop dunk (Wendell Moore Jr. assists)
22-36
0:14
Buddy Boeheim misses two point jump shot
0:12
Paolo Banchero defensive rebound
0:02
Mark Williams turnover (bad pass) (Buddy Boeheim steals)
0:02
Paolo Banchero personal foul (Buddy Boeheim draws the foul)
0:00
End of period
2nd Half
SYR
Orange
37
DUKE
Blue Devils
43
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:49
Wendell Moore Jr. misses three point jump shot
19:47
Jesse Edwards defensive rebound
19:23
Buddy Boeheim misses three point jump shot
19:21
Paolo Banchero defensive rebound
19:12
Wendell Moore Jr. misses three point jump shot
19:10
AJ Griffin offensive rebound
18:52
Jeremy Roach misses three point jump shot
18:50
Jesse Edwards defensive rebound
18:39
Mark Williams blocks Joseph Girard III's two point jump shot
18:37
AJ Griffin defensive rebound
18:31
AJ Griffin misses two point layup
18:29
Cole Swider defensive rebound
18:17
Jeremy Roach personal foul (Buddy Boeheim draws the foul)
18:13
Cole Swider misses two point jump shot
18:11
Paolo Banchero defensive rebound
18:02
Jesse Edwards shooting foul (Mark Williams draws the foul)
18:02
+1
Mark Williams makes regular free throw 1 of 2
22-37
18:02
+1
Mark Williams makes regular free throw 2 of 2
22-38
17:47
+2
Cole Swider makes two point jump shot
24-38
17:26
Mark Williams misses two point layup
17:24
Mark Williams offensive rebound
17:23
+2
Mark Williams makes two point layup
24-40
17:07
+3
Jimmy Boeheim makes three point jump shot (Buddy Boeheim assists)
27-40
16:41
+2
Wendell Moore Jr. makes two point jump shot (Jeremy Roach assists)
27-42
16:28
Cole Swider misses three point jump shot
16:26
Jesse Edwards offensive rebound
16:16
+2
Cole Swider makes two point jump shot
29-42
15:57
+3
Jeremy Roach makes three point jump shot (Wendell Moore Jr. assists)
29-45
15:34
Jesse Edwards misses two point layup
15:32
AJ Griffin defensive rebound
15:25
+2
Mark Williams makes two point dunk (Jeremy Roach assists)
29-47
15:12
Buddy Boeheim misses three point jump shot
15:10
Buddy Boeheim offensive rebound
15:06
Joseph Girard III misses three point jump shot
15:04
Mark Williams defensive rebound
14:56
TV timeout
14:47
Paolo Banchero misses three point jump shot
14:45
Wendell Moore Jr. offensive rebound
14:36
+3
Wendell Moore Jr. makes three point jump shot
29-50
14:27
Symir Torrence misses two point jump shot
14:25
Frank Anselem offensive rebound
14:21
+2
Frank Anselem makes two point layup
31-50
14:07
Jeremy Roach misses two point jump shot
14:05
Paolo Banchero offensive rebound
14:02
+2
Paolo Banchero makes two point layup
31-52
13:43
+2
Frank Anselem makes two point dunk (Jimmy Boeheim assists)
33-52
13:26
+3
Wendell Moore Jr. makes three point jump shot (Jeremy Roach assists)
33-55
13:18
Wendell Moore Jr. personal foul (Buddy Boeheim draws the foul)
13:06
Jimmy Boeheim misses three point jump shot
13:04
Wendell Moore Jr. defensive rebound
12:51
Frank Anselem personal foul (Theo John draws the foul)
12:46
+3
Paolo Banchero makes three point jump shot (Joey Baker assists)
33-58
12:26
Joseph Girard III turnover (lost ball)
12:10
AJ Griffin misses three point jump shot
12:08
Theo John offensive rebound
12:03
Joey Baker misses three point jump shot
12:01
Wendell Moore Jr. offensive rebound
11:58
+2
Wendell Moore Jr. makes two point dunk
33-60
11:44
+2
Jimmy Boeheim makes two point dunk (Symir Torrence assists)
35-60
11:24
Wendell Moore Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Jesse Edwards steals)
11:17
Theo John shooting foul (Jimmy Boeheim draws the foul)