COL BKB: Duke 71, Air Force 56

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Nov. 21 (UPI) -- DeMarcus Nelson scored 23 points Monday as the ninth-ranked Duke Blue Devils beat Air Force, 71-56, in the semifinals of the CBE Classic kickoff.

Lance Thomas added 15 points for the Blue Devils (4-0), who will face Marquette in the tournament championship on Tuesday.

Jacob Burtschi and Nick Welch each scored 12 points for the Falcons (4-1), who were out-rebounded 30-10 in their first loss of the season.

Air Force, which was off to its best start since the 1998-99 season, had been the only school to advance to the semifinals of the CBE Classic kick off without hosting the first two rounds of the tournament.