DURHAM, N.C. ? After a relatively weak schedule to start the season, No. 1 Duke needed a game against a team like Georgetown — a physical, fast, pressing squad that didn’t back down in Cameron Indoor Stadium.

The young Blue Devils took the Hoyas’ best shot and came out on top Wednesday night as Dahntay Jones matched his career high with 22 points and Daniel Ewing added a career-best 19 in a 93-86 victory.

“This Georgetown team is real quick and they play their hearts out,” Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. “I love Georgetown’s team. That’s why I’m so pleased with this win because we beat a really good team.

“We knew from the start this was going to be a different year than we’ve had for a long time here, but it could be a real fun year. So far, it’s been excellent because of these kids.”

Duke (10-0) managed just five assists on 17 first-half baskets, but began sharing the ball during a 15-1 second-half run that turned the game in its favor.

“The offense was really stale in the first half and guys just weren’t moving around,” said J.J. Redick, who added 13 points. “There was a lot of one-on-one and then in the second half Chris (Duhon) starting working his magic with that pick-and-roll up top.”

In addition to the offense from Jones and Ewing, Duhon played a stellar floor game when the outcome was still in doubt. The junior point guard finished with eight points and nine assists, while Jones and Shelden Williams added 11 rebounds each.

Duke, which shot 68 percent in the second half, is 135-17 under Krzyzewski when ranked No. 1. The Blue Devils moved into the top slot in The Associated Press poll for the first time this season Monday.

Georgetown's Victor Samnick (13) loses the ball as he crashes into Duke defenders Shelden Williams, right, and J.J. Reddick during the second half at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, N.C. Duke beat Georgetown, 93-86, on Wednesday.

The victory set up a matchup of the nation’s two unbeatens, as the Blue Devils host No. 17 Wake Forest (10-0) on Sunday night.

The Hoyas (8-2) were leading by five early in the second half, but got into trouble when Mike Sweetney, the sixth-leading scorer in the Big East at 19.9 a game, picked up fouls three and four in the opening 3:26 of the half and headed to the bench.

No. 4 Alabama 61, Arkansas 51

Tuscaloosa, Ala. — Reserve Antoine Pettway scored 14 points and Erwin Dudley had 11 points and 14 rebounds as No. 4 Alabama began defense of its Southeastern Conference title with a win over Arkansas.

The Crimson Tide (11-1), which had lost four of the last five meetings, survived a 38 percent shooting performance mostly because the Razorbacks (5-7) were even worse in the SEC opener for both teams.

No. 15 Indiana 78, Penn St. 65

Bloomington, Ind. — Jeff Newton and Bracey Wright each scored 17 points and Tom Coverdale added 14 points as No. 15 Indiana pulled away in the second half to beat Penn State in the Big Ten opener for both teams.

The Hoosiers (11-2) won their third straight since snapping a two-game losing streak. The loss ended the Nittany Lions’ five-game winning streak and extended their road losing streak to 16. Penn State (5-7) also has lost two games on neutral courts in that span.

No. 16 Creighton 65, Bradley 58

Peoria, Ill. — Michael Lindeman scored 15 points and No. 16 Creighton overcame a poor shooting performance to beat Bradley. The Bluejays (12-1, 3-0 Missouri Valley) shot just 36 percent, but still won their second in a row after dropping their only game of the season to then-No. 19 Xavier.

Bradley coach Jim Les was called for a technical foul with his team trailing late in the game. Kyle Korver hit both free throws and the Braves never got closer.

No. 18 Kentucky 74, Tennessee 71

Knoxville, Tenn. — Jules Camara hit a jumper and Gerald Fitch made a pair of free throws in the final 53 seconds as No. 18 Kentucky held off Tennessee.

The Volunteers (7-3, 0-1 Southeastern Conference) trailed by five with 6:27 to go, but rallied to take a 71-70 lead with 1:21 left on C.J. Watson’s breakaway layup. The Wildcats (10-3, 1-0), lost by a basket last year, but didn’t let it happen.

No. 19 Louisville 80, Charlotte 59

Charlotte, N.C. — Erik Brown scored 17 points and Luke Whitehead added 15 as No. 19 Louisville defeated Charlotte in the Conference USA opener for both teams.

Reece Gaines contributed 14 points and Taquan Dean 11 for the Cardinals (9-1, 1-0), who ran their winning streak to eight games. Louisville evened the all-time series against the 49ers at 14 each. Curtis Withers scored 15 points and Tory Reed had 11 for Charlotte (5-7, 0-1).

No. 21 Maryland 108, Hampton 58

College Park, Md. — Ryan Randle had 16 points and 12 rebounds, and Drew Nicholas scored 17 points as No. 21 Maryland breezed past Hampton.

Reserve Jamar Smith also scored 17 and Steve Blake had 13 points and eight assists for the Terrapins (7-3), who never trailed in extending their winning streak to four. Randle made his first three shots, stretching his run without a miss to a school-record 16 straight. Randle broke the previous mark of 15 successive field goals, set by Greg Manning over two games in 1981.