CAMERON INDOOR STADIUM/DURHAM Mike Krzyzewski said the reason he scheduled his Duke basketball team’s first exhibition so early was because it would be on Parents’ Weekend.

Maybe it’s a good thing for Pfeiffer that the Blue Devils haven’t been practicing all that long.

(No, I’m not going to be the Duke men’s basketball beat writer for Triangle Offense. I’m just pinch-hitting. But I have done spot coverage for a long time and was actually in the house for Krzyzewski’s first game as the Blue Devils’ head coach, a 67-49 win over Stetson on Nov. 29, 1980.)

Duke took on an outside opponent for the first time this season and had a lot of fun, scoring the game’s first 14 points and rolling to a 128-70 win over the Falcons from Conference Carolinas.

Duke has been rated as high as No. 7 in preseason prognostications while Pfeiffer went 16-12 last season.

The Blue Devils, who have been rated as high as No. 7 in placed eight players in double figures including all three of their freshmen. Kyle Singler led Duke with 21 points, followed by freshmen Mason Plumlee – who also had 12 rebounds – and Ryan Kelly with 18 apiece.

Nolan Smith added 16 points, Brian Zoubek 14 with 13 rebounds, freshman Andre Dawkins 12 and Oleg Czyz and Miles Plumlee – who had 14 rebounds – with 11 apiece.

Chris Woods led the way with 22 while Kierre Jordan added 19 and Jeff Pettiway 10 for Pfeiffer, which went 16-12 last season.

Duke led 61-20 at halftime in front of a jam-packed house.

The Blue Devils shot 60.2 percent to Pfeiffer’s 37.2 and won the rebound “battle” 65-24 including 22 offensive board, eight of those from Mason Plumlee. Duke had 30 assists, including eight from Singler, to seven for the visitors.

Duke forward Lance Thomas did not participate in the game; Krzyzewski said the senior had been sick for several days and was “feeling fine,” but was held out to let him get an extra day’s rest.

Fans amused themselves on at least two occasions by chanting salutes to Harrison Barnes, the nation’s No. 1 recruit out of Ames, Iowa, who was in the house on an official recruiting visit.

“Harrison Barnes, come to Duke!” went one chant. “Harrison Barnes, this is home!” went another.

Pfeiffer has previously played exhibition games at UNC, UNC Charlotte, Purdue and Texas A&M, and has another scheduled at N.C. State next season.

What does it all mean?

That both teams got a good workout, the Pfeiffer kids got to play in the big house, and nobody got hurt.

Stars of the game

1. Singler.

2. Zoubek.

3. Woods.

Play of the game

The first bucket, Miles Plumlee’s short jumper with Mason Plumlee on the assist.

On deck

Duke vs. Findlay (exh.), Nov. 3, 7 p.m.

Pfeiffer vs. Cheney, Nov. 15, 7 p.m.