In a closely contested college basketball game, Duke secured a victory over Virginia Tech with a final score of 77-67. The game, which saw Duke take a six-point lead at halftime (35-29), was marked by a strong shooting performance from the Blue Devils, particularly in the second half where they shot an impressive 73% and 59.3% overall. Despite a scoring drought from Virginia Tech and a significant rebounding advantage for Duke (38-20), the game remained competitive. Notably, Duke's Caleb Foster contributed early with two three-pointers, and Jeremy Roach hit a crucial three-pointer at the buzzer to end the first half. Virginia Tech struggled with a six-minute field goal drought and missed eight of nine shots at one point, but managed to keep the game within reach. Duke's ability to maintain their lead was aided by their 50% field goal shooting and 4-for-7 on threes in the first half, as well as their 55.4% shooting for the game and 9-17 on 3-pointers. Ryan Young provided valuable minutes off the bench for Duke, contributing to their dominance on the boards and second-chance points. Duke's next game will be against UNC on Saturday.
Final: Duke 77, #Hokies 67. Blue Devils shoot 55.4% on night, 59.3% in second half.
Duke beats Virginia Tech 77-67. Blue Devils come on the road and notch an impressive win. Outrebounded VT 38-20; shot 9-17 on 3-pointers. Most impressive was probably the Saturday-Monday swing and playing better tonight. Next one is in Chapel Hill.
That'll do it from Cassell, where No. 7 Duke wins 77-67 over the #Hokies. It's too early to make decisive statements about what single results mean for a team's NCAA Tournament chances, but this one felt like a big missed opportunity for VT to bolster the ol' resume.
This Duke team confounds me… https://t.co/NORQkCKeEP
Very solid win for Duke, on the road, in a place that’s given it trouble lately. Tyrese Proctor keeps cooking, Ryan Young with some nice minutes off the bench, and the Blue Devils even pulled away at the end. Encouraging stuff. Next up: at UNC on Saturday.
Duke keeping the #Hokies at bay down the stretch. Has dominated the boards. 37-20 advantage, 15 second-chance points. 14-point game with a minute and a half left.
Duke on Saturday: 4 offensive rebounds, 0 second-chance points. Duke tonight with 3:47 left: 10 offensive rebounds, 13 second-chance points. If Duke scores on this possession coming out of the under-4, that number goes up.
Welp and that’s a huge foul (Thought there might’ve been contact on Roach right before) https://t.co/chdeXJn68Q
Cattoor three with 5:18 left pulls the #Hokies within 67-59. He's got 15 tonight. VT hanging in there but need to slow down Duke somehow. Blue Devils shooting 55% for the game.
Ryan Young stepping up big time. Remains incredibly valuable off the bench
Rim protector Ryan Young.
Big-time minutes from Ryan Young
Tech 9 of 9 from line tonight. Duke 2 of 6. Devils still lead, 63-56, at U8 TV break. https://t.co/m0fTFXssAL
All right, back to the basketball game where Duke's shooting ... *73 percent* this half!?!? That can't be right. OK, it is. #Hokies still within 63-56 after that basket by Pedulla with 7:54 left. He'll get a FT on the other side of the TV timeout too.
5 of Duke's 12 turnovers are on offensive fouls. Those are also 5 of the 6 most recent ones.
#Hokies and Duke are a combined 12 of 14 from the field in the last few minutes. Wild pace. Blue Devils lead 58-51 with 10:47 remaining.
Roach bails Blue Devils out with a 3-pointer as first half clock expires. Duke takes 35-29 lead to halftime after leading by as many as 11. Hokies have life...and possession to start the 2nd half.
Well ... Duke has a 6-point lead again (35-29). Thanks to Jeremy Roach's second-chance 3-pointer. Nice little rear-end pat of Robbie Beran after the horn, too. https://t.co/4XpaFLNW4O
Second-chance points: Duke 8, #Hokies 0. Blue Devils lead 35-29 at halftime.
Dagger three by Jeremy Roach at the buzzer after an offensive rebound. Sapped a little bit of the #Hokies' momentum, though they've cut the Duke lead to a more manageable 35-29 at the break.
Duke had a 32-21 lead looking to keep it in double digits at halftime. Instead, Blue Devils turn it over on three consecutive possessions. VT cuts Duke lead to 32-26 with 1:19 left until halftime.
32-21 Duke after that Mark Mitchell dunk. Mike Young calls timeout. #Hokies in the danger zone here near the end of the first half. Can't let this deficit get too big.
VT scored 13 points on its first 8 possessions. VT has 4 points on 11 possessions since then. Didn't pick up on anything specific Duke changed.
#Hokies have missed eight of their last nine shots and trail Duke 26-17 at U8 TV break.
26-17 Blue Devils with 6:49 left in the first half. Little offensive rhythm for the #Hokies right now. Not so for Duke, which is 50% from the field, 4-for-7 on threes.
Six-minute FG drought here for the #Hokies. Less than ideal. Duke hits another three. It's 24-15 Blue Devils.
First timeout comes at 12:38 which means another will be coming along shortly. Hokies got easy points on their first four possessions, but Duke has a 14-13 lead as Caleb Foster already has eight points
Ahh, there we go. It's 14-13 Duke at the first break at the 12:38 mark. Good ball movement for the #Hokies early. Four assists on five baskets. Two Caleb Foster threes put the Blue Devils up.