Allen sets free-throw record in Blue Devil victory

PROVIDENCE, R.I.—Sophomore guard Grayson Allen had one of his worst shooting days of the season Thursday, but he still managed to make history.

Allen—who has now scored at least 15 points in 23 straight games—broke Duke’s NCAA tournament record for the most made free throws in a game, splashing home 15 in a 93-85 victory against UNC-Wilmington at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center.

“You just have to enjoy the moment and be in it,” Allen said. “If you don’t win the game, you’re going home, so there’s a lot of pressure for both teams coming out.”

Allen shot 4-for-12 from the field and 0-for-4 on 3-pointers, and he was not helped from freshman guard Luke Kennard, who finished 2-of-9 from the field. For the first time in all season, the Blue Devils did not connect on at least five 3-pointers, finishing 4-for-15 from beyond the arc and making only one of their five attempts in the second half.

But as Duke opened a double-digit lead thanks to a 19-3 run in the early second half, the Blue Devils headed to the line frequently after breaking through the Seahawk full-court press.

And although graduate student Marshall Plumlee was the primary beneficiary of Duke's ability to handle the pressure with eight open dunks, Allen—an 83 percent free-throw shooter—attempted 17 shots from the charity stripe and deposited all but two of them.

On one transition opportunity, Allen drove the lane as usual before flipping up a soaring pass that Plumlee slammed home.

“Thankfully, [Marshall is] athletic and he can go up and get it, so that’s an easy target,” Allen said. “When we’re in a two on one situation…I have full confidence in him to go up and get it.”