Jeff Borzello, ESPN Staff Writer December 20, 2023, 11:26 p.m. ET
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- Joined ESPN in 2014.
- Graduated from the University of Delaware.
NEW YORK (AP) — Duke extended its winning streak to three games with a win over Baylor on Wednesday — and more good news could be on the way as coach Jon Scheyer later said star guard Tyrese Proctor could be close to returning from injury .
Proctor has missed Duke's last three games after suffering a sprained ankle in the opening minutes of the Blue Devils' loss to Georgia Tech earlier this month.
Scheyer said Proctor pushed to put on the suit on Wednesday, but ultimately he needed more time.
“He’s getting closer every day,” Scheyer said. “He really wanted to play in this game. That just wasn't the case – he didn't train. That's what's going to happen. I'm optimistic when we come back for our next game. He still needs to put the days together, but he’s making great progress.”
Duke's next game is Dec. 30 at home against Queens before ACC play resumes Jan. 2 against Syracuse.
Despite Proctor's injury, No. 21 Duke earned a 78-70 victory over Baylor at Madison Square Garden.
In Proctor's absence, freshman Jared McCain has emerged as a reliable perimeter scorer. Against the Bears, he scored 21 points, setting a career high.
“There really are no words to describe it,” McCain said. “I'm in New York at Christmas time. Tomorrow I'm going to look at the Rockefeller Tree. It's just a surreal moment. I imagine a lot of things. I imagined us coming into the locker room celebrating and it happened. And there’s just no.” words to describe it. It is amazing.
McCain made the first basket of the game, then hit a few more jumpers to give Duke an early lead before hitting two crucial 3-pointers in the second half. He cut Baylor's lead to one with 10:18 left and later hit a 3 to put the Blue Devils within seven with 4:03 left in what seemed like a broken bone for the Bears.
“I knew the corner guy was either going to help me or stay with me,” McCain said. “And in the end he helped and it was a bad decision and I was able to capitalize on it. Thanks to my teammates. “We've worked a lot on sharing the ball offensively over the last two weeks and I've just been able to find my spots.” I work on these recordings every day.”
Through the first eight games of his career, the former five-star recruit averaged 7.6 points and made a total of 13 three-pointers. In the last three games with Proctor out, McCain averaged 18.3 points with a total of nine three-pointers.
“I feel like I've worked so hard for these moments that when I get into these moments, I just trust my work,” he said. “Whether it’s my stamina, whether I’m in the gym late at night or early in the morning. The ability to just be in these moments and enjoy them. I've worked so hard for these moments that it's the perfect time for me to just have fun out there.”
Meanwhile, No. 10 Baylor has lost two straight games after starting the season with nine straight wins.
“We still can’t do what we need to do to win a game like this,” coach Scott Drew said. “The good thing is we have guys that want to get better and will continue to get better all year long.”
The Bears will look to bounce back Friday against Mississippi Valley State.