CLEMSON, S.C., Jan. 5 (UPI) -- The top-ranked Duke Blue Devils spoiled Clemson's return to Littlejohn Coliseum Sunday night, pulling away in the second half for an 89-71 victory in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams.
Freshman J.J. Redick scored 22 points for the Blue Devils (9-0, 1-0 ACC), who posted their 14th straight win over the Tigers.
Clemson spent $31 million to renovate the school's longtime basketball home.
The contest matched two of the four remaining unbeaten teams in Division I, but Duke had too much firepower for Clemson (9-1, 0-1). The other unbeatens are Wake Forest and Connecticut.
Dahntay Jones, who was inserted to the starting lineup, capped a 10-2 spurt with a 3-pointer that gave the Blue Devils a 48-38 halftime lead. Duke increased its lead to 65-47 on Daniel Ewing's three-pointer with 11:55 left.
The teams combined for 52 fouls in a physical game that also included six technicals. The Blue Devils led by as many 19 points in the final minutes.
Edward Scott scored 28 points to keep Clemson close.
While their 35-year-old campus facility was being renovated, the Tigers played their first eight home games in Anderson, S.C. Despite the inconvenience, the Tigers are off to their best start since the 1995-96 season, when they won their first 11 games.
Duke played its first true road game of the season. The Blue Devils played only one of their first eight games outside North Carolina, an 84-73 victory over UCLA in Indianapolis on Nov. 30.
