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DURHAM, N.C. -- Duke finally had all the players that made the Blue Devils the top-ranked team in the preseason -- except that, for most of the night, they didnt play like it.Luke Kennard scored 24 points and No. 5 Duke beat Tennessee State 65-55 on Monday in the college debut of touted freshman Harry Giles.Freshman forward Jayson Tatum added 14 points and Grayson Allen finished with 12 for the Blue Devils (11-1), who plodded through 30 mostly sluggish minutes before pulling away from a pesky Tigers team that threatened to spoil a big night for Giles.This game was a learning experience for us, Kennard said. We cant take anything for granted. Weve got to play each and every game like its the biggest game of the year. ... I just dont think we were really ready to play. ... Our energy wasnt there, our enthusiasm wasnt there, and we just didnt really have one guy thats bringing us all the energy, and we really needed that tonight.Tennessee State led 36-34 on Wayne Martins jumper with 15 minutes left. Duke countered with a 25-3 run highlighted by five 3-pointers -- including two by Kennard on consecutive possessions after he was left completely unguarded -- to take a 59-39 lead.Darreon Reddick and Tahjere McCall scored 14 points apiece for the Tigers (8-3).Amile Jefferson had a career-best 18 rebounds for Duke, which finally got Giles on the floor for the first time. One of the nations top recruits, he missed his senior season in high school with torn knee ligaments in his right knee and then missed the first 11 games at Duke after having his left knee scoped in October.First game, that was just shaking the rust off and getting the kinks out, Giles said. I think each day, each game, each practice, Ill get better.BIG PICTURETennessee State: This was the second time in nine days that the Tigers threw a scare into the host team at an historic Atlantic Coast Conference venue, after taking North Carolina State to overtime in the Wolfpacks first game at renovated Reynolds Coliseum. Tennessee States three losses have all come on the road against Power 5 programs, with the other defeat coming at Vanderbilt.Hopefully, we realized that if we play as a team, we currently feel like we can play with anybody in the country, but we need to try to get to the point where we can consistently beat high-level teams, coach Dana Ford said.Duke: The impact of Giles return went far beyond his meager line in the boxscore -- no points, no rebounds, and 0-for-1 shooting in 4 first-half minutes. For the first time, the Blue Devils had the full complement of star freshmen that made them No. 1 in the preseason polls.But Duke shot a season-worst 37 percent and finished just 19 of 32 from the free throw line while establishing a season-low scoring total by 10 points. The previous low was 75, both in the loss to Kansas and the win against Rhode Island.Were in October, not December, with our team, coach Mike Krzyzewski said.STAT SHEETKennard has scored 20 or more points in four of his last five games. ... Jefferson was averaging 17.8 points and 12.3 rebounds during his last four games. His rebounding numbers went up but his scoring numbers fell -- he finished with five points on 2-of-7 shooting and was just 1 for 8 from the foul line.HARRY CHRISTMASAll eyes were on Giles, who made his long-awaited Duke debut when he checked in during a timeout with 11:27 left in the first half with the crowd chanting his first name. Those chants died down, then picked back up when the Blue Devils broke the huddle. He clearly isnt in game shape yet, and his only shot -- a jumper from the right wing over KenDarrius Hamilton in his first 15 seconds on the floor -- was way too strong.UP NEXTTennessee State: The Tigers have eight days before their next game, a home date with Division III Covenant on Dec. 27.Duke: The Blue Devils play Elon on Wednesday night at the Greensboro Coliseum.---Follow Joedy McCreary at http://twitter.com/joedyap.---More AP college basketball: www.collegebasketball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25. Evgeny Kuznetsov Capitals Jersey . PAUL, Minn. Jaromir Jagr Capitals Jersey . White came in fourth place in the event. He was the two-time defending gold medallist. The gold medal went to Swiss snowboarder Iouri Podladtchikov. http://www.capitalsteamstoreonline.com/authentic-braden-holtby-capitals-jersey/ . 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After forcing five first-half line dropouts, he didnt give the Dogs an inch and suffocated them out of the game.Its well documented how important (Thurston) is to that Cowboys side but, gee, hes got some good helpers around him now, Hasler said.You need to be on your game for 80 minutes against a side like the Cowboys and, for the last month, we havent been on our game.And therein lies the quandary of the Bulldogs for the last month and a bit.While fourth and seemingly neck deep in the title hunt, theyve failed to impress, with the whips cracking after some fundamental lapses in ball control - something theyve done so well all year.Hasler admits their completion rate makes for dry reading but it goes to the heart off why theyre not setting the world on fire when they should be building.ddddddddddddAll year, theyve completed at 77 per cent but, in last weeks loss to Brisbane, they managed just 29 of 44 sets - 65 per cent.The data and the stats can be quite boring but, at the same time, they can be quite poignant, Hasler said.We completed 11 out of 20 in that second half and, against a side like the Broncos, theyre some of the sides were going to be coming up against over the next couple of weeks. You cant do it - we just have to get our heads around it.The Bulldogs will be without prop Sam Kasiano after electing not to fight his dangerous-contact charge for a kick to Corey Parkers head.The Cowboys pack will be boosted with Queensland and Australian front-rower Matt Scott back from a back injury.STATS THAT MATTER:* Canterbury have won three of the past four, and seven of their past nine matches* Canterbury return to their traditional home ground in what will be their 553rd match at Belmore* The Cowboys have won 10 of 11 matches at home this season but just three of 11 awaySource: Fox Sports Stats ' ' '