THE SPORTS DESKThe authority for sports coverage in the Fredericksburg region.
DURHAM, N.C.—Virginia Tech felt it was an improved team from the one that lost by 32 points at home against Duke almost two weeks ago. And at times Tuesday night at Cameron Indoor Stadium, the Hokies played that way.
But things fell apart in the second half, and Tech gave way to No. 3 Duke in another blowout, 85–57.
“We wanted to come out and show that we were a better team, but we’re not in it for moral victories,” Hokies coach James Johnson said. “We had opportunities to win this game tonight. We’ve got to find ways to finish games.”
The Hokies (13–17, 4–13 ACC) led for almost 13 minutes of the first half and trailed by only three at halftime. They were behind by only six points with 12:36 remaining in the game before the Blue Devils broke it open.
“Our effort tonight, I thought, was good for about 30 to 32 minutes,” Johnson said. “We came out to play the first half. We just weren’t able to make the plays down the stretch that we needed to make.”
Duke (26–4, 13–4 ACC) closed the game on a 20–2 run and clinched a perfect 16–0 record at home this season. The Blue Devils senior class has finished undefeated at home in three of its four seasons, the first time that’s happened under Hall of Fame head coach Mike Krzyzewski.
In front of a raucous crowd on Senior Night, Duke’s three seniors led the way in an emotional victory.
Senior guard Seth Curry had 20 points and five rebounds. Senior forward Ryan Kelly, playing only his second game since coming back from a foot injury, had 18 points, nine rebounds and five assists, and senior forward Mason Plumlee had 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
Plumlee scored 11 of his points in the second half.
“They started getting the ball inside to Mason and were getting to offensive rebounds,” Hokies junior forward Jarell Eddie said. “It just kind of fell apart then.”
As in the first meeting in Blacksburg, Duke connected on 12 shots from behind the 3-point line. Curry made 5 of 9 shots from long range.
“They get a lot of looks,” Hokies senior guard Erick Green said. “Honestly, in the first half we could have been up by 10, but they got the rebound and kicked it out like they always do and bang a 3. Dagger.”
Despite Duke’s concerted game plan to keep the ball out of his hands, Green scored 25 points, matching his national-best season average. Eddie had 13 points and seven rebounds.
“They took the ball out of my hands. They didn’t want me to bring the ball up the court. Coach K [guarded me] the best, honestly,” Green said. “They made me work.”
Krzyzewski notched his 880th victory at Duke and passed former UNC coach Dean Smith as the ACC’s all-time winningest coach.
The Hokies, who have lost six straight games to Duke, remain in sole possession of last place in the ACC standings with one regular season game remaining: at Wake Forest on Sunday.
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