Kyle Singler scored 28 points and Duke used some timely 3-pointers to celebrate its return to the No. 1 ranking with a 78-61 home victory over No. 24 Temple on Wednesday night in Durham, N.C.

Nolan Smith added 15 points for the red-hot Blue Devils (26-2), who vaulted from fifth all the way to first after the top four teams in last week's rankings all lost. The victory extended Duke's home winning streak to 35 games.

Lavoy Allen had 17 points and 13 rebounds to pace the Owls (21-6), who saw their eight-game winning streak come to an end.

The Blue Devils, who entered Wednesday's play seventh in the nation in points per game, hit just 3 of their first 14 shots to open the contest. The Duke defense responded by holding Temple at bay – the Owls made just one field goal in a 5 1/2-minute stretch midway through the first half – and Andre Dawkins and Seth Curry hit late 3s to give the Blue Devils a 31-24 lead at the break.

Duke's vaunted offense returned to form in the second half, hitting four straight shots – including 3s by Curry and Smith – to open up a 13-point advantage. The lead grew to 17 on a Curry 3-pointer with 8:45 remaining, and Duke wasn't challenged the rest of the way.

Temple has now dropped eight straight games in Durham, with its last victory there coming in 1949.