San Diego State Aztecs at Duke Blue Devils

Jahlil Okafor scores 26 as Duke beats San Diego State to reach Sweet 16

When he's playing like that, the Blue Devils have a shot to finish as the nation's best team right alongside him.

Okafor scored 18 of his 26 points in a dominating first half, and top-seeded Duke beat San Diego State 68-49 on Sunday in the NCAA tournament, sending the freshmen-led Blue Devils back to the Sweet 16 to continue their push for coach Mike Krzyzewski's fifth national title.

"It would mean the world to me," Okafor said. "I've always wanted to win a national title. ... That's what [the freshmen] came to Duke to have an opportunity to win a national title. That is where all of my focus has been this season, and that is what it still is."

Freshman Justise Winslow added 13 points and 12 rebounds for Duke, which shot 55 percent against the eighth-seeded Aztecs (27-9) two days after shooting 63 percent against 16th-seeded Robert Morris.

"Okafor is a load," Aztecs coach Steve Fisher said. "He is hard to guard. ... But he's not the lone ranger. Winslow can play. They have a terrific team, and they can play. They played like a No. 1 team today."

TIP-INS

San Diego State: Winston Shepard scored a team-best 13 points. ... San Diego State shot 33 percent. ... O'Brien scored eight points on 2-for-10 shooting.

Duke: Cook scored 15 points. ... Duke made 6 of 14 3-point tries. ... Duke scored 18 fast-break points. ... The Blue Devils are 34-6 in NCAA games played in their home state and 47-9 as a No. 1 seed.

TWO-GAME TEAR

Duke shot 58.7 percent over its two games in Charlotte, including 16-for-35 (45.7 percent) from 3-point range. The Blue Devils also assisted on 44 of their 64 baskets.

DENYING THE 3

San Diego State had shot an unusually high 22 3-pointers in Friday's win against St. John's, making nine. The Aztecs went 2-for-13 from behind the arc Sunday.

"They did a great job denying and pressuring the guards so that it was hard to make certain reads," senior Dwayne Polee II said. "That's a credit to their defense. And open ones we did get, we weren't able to knock down."

LONG TIME COMING

The matchup was the first between Krzyzewski and Fisher in the NCAA tournament since the 1992 title game.

UP NEXT

San Diego State: Season over.

Duke: Will play Utah on Friday.

How can I watch San Diego State vs. Duke?

• TV Channel: San Diego State at Duke 2021 College Basketball, week 1, is broadcasted on CBS.
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