Freshman Jabari Parker scored 21 points to help Duke beat Gardner-Webb 85-66 on Monday night in its first game in nearly two weeks.
Andre Dawkins added a season-high 18 points for the Blue Devils (8-2), who hadn't played since beating Michigan on Dec. 3 in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.
That break, which included final exams, came after a tough stretch of four games in 10 days that included a loss to top-ranked Arizona in the NIT Season Tip-Off championship and a one-point home win over Vermont just before Thanksgiving.