DURHAM, N.C. – Jacksonville University men's basketball succumbed to a tough shooting night in the 2022-23 season opener, falling 71-44 at #7 Duke on Monday night.
 
The Dolphins (0-1) were within three points with 5:38 to play in the first half, but the Blue Devils used a 17-4 run to end the half to separate and cruised to victory in the first game of the Jon Scheyer era in Cameron Indoor Stadium.
 
JU scored the first bucket of the game after winning the opening tip, with Osayi Osifo hitting a baseline jumper. Dylan O'Hearn made a tough layup through contact to make it 4-2 and Kevion Nolan fed Omar Payne for a slam to give the Dolphins a 6-5 lead with 16:48 to play in the first. Duke took the lead next time down and never trailed again.
 
Mike Marsh hit his first of seven made field goals on the night, converting a layup at the 13:31 mark to cut it to 15-10. After trailing by 10 with 10:56 left in the half, JU used a 9-2 run to cut it to three, starting with a great feed from Payne to Marsh for a layup and a foul, converting the three-point play. Jordan Davis hit a layup, Marsh sank a jumper and Davis got a steal and was fouled in transition, making two free throws before Duke went on its run to lead by 14 at the half.
 
Osifo made a dunk to start the second half, but he was limited by foul trouble all night, playing just 12 minutes before fouling out. Marsh led the team with 17 points, but also fouled out after 24 minutes off the bench. Nolan struggled to score with the defense keyed on the Preseason All-ASUN selection, making just 1-7 shots, but still leading the team in assists and steals, with four and two, respectively.
 
UP NEXT
 
JU returns to Swisher Gymnasium, where it went 15-0 last year, to host Johnson for the home opener on Friday. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m., and as a Veteran's Day promotion, all active and retired military members and their families get in for free with military i.d.
 
COACH'S COMMENTS

 

NUMBERS YOU SHOULD KNOW
 

• Mike Marsh posted his best field goal percentage of his career on more than five shot attempts, going 7-8 from the field. It was his 14th double-figure scoring game of his D-I career
• JU allowed over 70 points for just the sixth time in the first 32 games of the Jordan Mincy era
• The Dolphins were outrebounded by 19, including a plus-nine mark in offensive rebounds. The team last year was 12th in the country in rebounding margin (+7.4)
• Nolan, who led the ASUN in free-throw percentage last year, made both attempts tonight