Duke Triumphs Over Virginia Tech
In a commanding performance, Cameron Boozer propelled No. 4 Duke to a 72-58 triumph against Virginia Tech Saturday afternoon in Blacksburg. This victory marks Duke’s ninth consecutive win, as they improved their season record to 20-1 and maintained a perfect 9-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
Boozer’s Stellar Performance
Boozer, who notably scored 19 points in the team’s previous game against No. 20 Louisville, demonstrated his skill by registering 24 points, shooting an efficient 75% from the field with 9 of 12 shots made. Alongside his scoring, he also pulled down eight rebounds and dished out five assists.
Duke’s Road Dominance
Duke’s dominance continued with their success on the road, winning all seven of their away games this season and boasting an impressive overall record of 31 wins in their last 32 matches against fellow ACC teams. Amani Hansberry was the standout player for Virginia Tech (16-7, 5-5), contributing 20 points as the team attempted to secure a crucial Quad 1 victory to better its prospects for the NCAA Tournament, especially given they had only one such victory so far this season.
Game Highlights
Duke maintained control throughout the game, never allowing Virginia Tech to gain the lead. The Blue Devils established a 13-point margin in the second half, but the Hokies mounted a late push, narrowing the gap to 62-56 with a jumper from Jailen Bedford at 6:10 left on the clock. However, Boozer quickly responded by scoring the next seven points, culminating in a decisive three-pointer with 1:30 to go, extending the Blue Devil lead to 69-56, ultimately sealing the game.
Defensive Strength
Duke, which entered the contest as the top scoring defense in the ACC, limiting opponents to an average of 64.6 points per game, continued to stifle the Hokies’ offense. Virginia Tech struggled severely in the closing minutes, scoring only two points and committing four turnovers while shooting a mere 1 of 7 from the field. Maliq Brown and Isaiah Evans also contributed for Duke, each scoring 11 points. On the other hand, Bedford finished with 12 points for Virginia Tech, while Ben Hammond added 11, but the team managed only a 41.8% shooting percentage (23 of 55) and was ineffective from beyond the arc, making just 7 of 26 attempts.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, Duke will host Boston College on Tuesday, while Virginia Tech will take on N.C. State next Saturday.
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