🏀 No. 3 Duke Handles Charleston, 81–64, Behind Balanced Attack & Fournier’s Dominance

DURHAM, NC — No. 3 seed Duke (25-8) took care of business at Cameron Indoor, defeating Charleston (27-6) 81-64 in first-round NCAA Tournament action.

Despite a spectacular scoring performance from Taryn Barbot, Duke’s depth, efficiency, and interior dominance proved too much for the Cougars.

🔥 Duke Sets the Tone Early

The Blue Devils came out locked in, jumping to a 25-16 first-quarter lead and extending it to 45-26 at halftime.

➡️ Duke controlled tempo from the start
➡️ Forced tough shots and limited second chances
➡️ Built a lead that never felt threatened

Even with a late push from Charleston, Duke’s early dominance held strong.

🌟 Toby Fournier Leads the Way

Sophomore standout Toby Fournier delivered a dominant performance:

• 24 points

• 11-18 FG

• 7 rebounds

• 2 blocks

➡️ Elite efficiency inside
➡️ Physical presence on both ends
➡️ Set the tone for Duke’s offense

💪 Strong Supporting Cast for Duke

Duke showcased one of the most balanced team efforts of the day:

• Delaney Thomas: 19 pts, 9 reb

• Jordan Wood (off bench): 17 pts (PERFECT 6-6 FG, 5-5 3PT 🔥)

• Ashlon Jackson: 7 pts, 9 assists

• Taina Mair: 8 assists

Team stats tell the story:

• 49% FG shooting (29-59)

• 25 assists

• 47 rebounds

• 14 offensive rebounds

➡️ Ball movement + efficiency = dominance

💥 Taryn Barbot Goes OFF for Charleston

Even in defeat, Taryn Barbot delivered one of the top individual performances of the tournament:

• 36 points

• 6 threes

• 14-16 FT

➡️ Scored over 50% of Charleston’s points
➡️ Carried the offensive load all night

Taylor Barbot added:

• 13 points

• 8 rebounds

• 5 assists

🚧 Charleston Struggles Outside of Barbot

While Barbot shined, Charleston struggled as a team:

• 26% FG shooting (18-69)

• Only 6 assists total

• Limited offensive balance

➡️ Duke’s defense made life difficult for everyone else

📊 By the Numbers

Duke:

• 81 points

• 49% FG

• 25 assists

• 47 rebounds

Charleston:

• 64 points

• 26% FG

• 39 rebounds

• 11 steals

🔮 What This Means

Duke advances looking like a serious contender with:

✅ Interior dominance (Fournier, Thomas)
✅ Elite ball movement
✅ Strong bench production
✅ Defensive discipline

➡️ This is a team built for a deep tournament run.

🗣️ Final Take

Charleston had the best scorer on the floor in Taryn Barbot, but Duke had the better team.

With Fournier leading inside and Wood providing a huge spark off the bench, the Blue Devils looked sharp, connected, and dangerous.

📲 Stay locked in with Major Movez Media for full NCAA Tournament coverage, player rankings, and game breakdowns.

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