DURHAM, N.C., Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Nolan Smith keyed a quick Duke start Wednesday that sent the No. 1-ranked Blue Devils storming past Alabama-Birmingham 85-64.
Smith scored 33 points, the largest single-game total in his four-year Duke career. Kyle Singler also became the 11th player in Duke history to reach 2,000 points.
The Blue Devils have won their first 14 games in a season for the fifth time in school history. Their winning streak dating to last season has reached 24 games.
Duke held the Blazers to three points over the first 5 minutes while building a 13-point lead. The Blue Devils led by 15 at halftime.
Singler scored 15 points and Mason Plumlee had 14 for Duke, which held Alabama-Birmingham to 39 percent shooting from the field.
Jamarr Sanders led the Blazers (10-3) with 21 points. Alabama-Birmingham had won its previous four games.
