Duke 74, Coastal Carolina 49

DURHAM - Now it's time to see what Duke can do with all three of its best players in the lineup.

Forward Kyle Singler and guard Jon Scheyer have steadied the ninth-ranked Blue Devils in their first two games while guard Nolan Smith served a two-game NCAA suspension for playing in unsanctioned summer league games.

In the opening round of the NIT Season Tipoff on Monday night at Cameron Indoor Stadium, Singler scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as Duke defeated Coastal Carolina 74-49.

Scheyer was held to two points and attempted just one field goal in the first half, but finished with 10 points and five assists. In Duke's two lopsided wins to open the season, Singler has totaled 43 points and 16 rebounds. Scheyer has 28 points, nine assists and no turnovers over the two games at point guard.

And now Smith is returning to give the Blue Devils another ball handling option in the backcourt and a threat to push the ball on the fast break. At 6 p.m. today in a game televised by ESPN, Duke will play the winner of Monday's late game between Charlotte and Elon in the second round of the NIT.

Tonight's winner will advance to New York for the NIT semifinals on Nov. 25.

Monday night's opponent, Coastal Carolina, came into the game with momentum after defeating Southern Conference South Division favorite College of Charleston 70-59 on Friday night at Myrtle Beach, S.C.

The Chanticleers (1-1) got Duke's tournament off to a stunningly bad start. The Blue Devils turned over the ball on their first four possessions as Coastal Carolina ran out to a 6-0 lead.

But Singler, the preseason ACC player of the year according to the media, quickly put the Blue Devils in front with a mixture of baskets in the lane and jump shots. His teammates combined to shoot just 6-for-20 from the field in the first half, so he didn't get much help.

He didn't need much help, either. Singler shot 6-for-9 from the field in the first half and had 15 of Duke's points as the Blue Devils led 33-19 at halftime.

There was plenty of angst on Duke's bench early as the Blue Devils' underclassmen in particular struggled at times. Associate head coach Steve Wojciechowski muttered disgustedly after Mario Edwards turned a Duke turnover into a breakaway dunk in the opening minutes.

Coach Mike Krzyzewski hollered at freshman Ryan Kelly, instructing him to come to the ball after a Jon Scheyer pass nearly resulted in another turnover. And Krzyzewski leaped angrily off the bench as play stopped for a media timeout after sophomore Olek Czyz was called for carrying the ball on a clumsy left-handed dribble.

But with Singler and Scheyer controlling the game and freshman guard Andre Dawkins (13 points) providing spark off the bench, the Blue Devils relaxed their coaches and advanced in the tournament.