WRAL Sports Fan

Duke

Game blog: Duke rolls Virginia Tech 69-44 to win ACC Opener

By Scott Jackson

Jan 4, 2009

 9:43p.m. Duke has started to clear the bench with Pocius, Williams, and Plumlee now all in the game.  Duke up 69-44 with 1:11 left. The our house chant has begun at Cameron Indoor.

9:40p.m.  2:46 to go in the game and Virginia Tech has just 13 points in the half.  Duke well on their way to another win in an ACC opener up 69-44.  Kyle Singler showing why NBA scouts are drooling over him he can handle the ball, play in the post, shot from the outside and dish.  One Duke's last offensive possession he made an impressive pass to a cutting Nolan Smith under the basket.  The big man sees the floor so well.

9:30p.m. Not sure what Coach Seth Greenberg was waiting for, but with his team down 22 with 6:22 to play he finally called a timeout.  Duke has turned up the defense and the Hokies looked gased as this game has gotten away from them.  Kyle Singler is a beast with 19 points and 8 rebounds getting it done in the post or on the perimeter. 

9:18 p.m. Since Coach K called timeout after Virginia Tech cut the lead to 4pts, Duke has gone on a 12-4 run and has really picked up the intensity on the defensive end.  Offensively they have really carving up the Hokies once stout defense.  Duke up 53-39, largest lead with 10:52 left in the second half.

9:07p.m. Duke came out of the timeout crashing the offensive boards and scored on a pair of putbacks.  One from Brian Zoubek and another from Gerald Henderson and extended their lead to 45-37 with 14:45 left in the second half.   Hokies continue to struggle offensively, but are doing a good job making Duke work for everything they get on the offensive end.

 9:01p.m. Hokies and continue to play well defensively and have cut the lead to 4, Duke up 39-35, but ice cold to start second half.  Give Va. Tech credit though they might not be shooting well but their defense is keeping them in this game.   Duke timeout at 17:23 as Coach K is trying to get his team organized offensively.

8:50p.m. Gerald Henderson leads all scorers with 13pts and Kyle Singler has 10pts, but he also leads the Blue Devils with 4 of their 10 turnovers.   The big man does lead the team in assists as well with 4 and steals with 2.   The turnovers by Duke have kept the Hokies in this game they have converted the 10 turnovers to 9 points and are down by only 8 despite shooting just 38%.  Duke is shooting 48% from the floor.  Jeff Allen and Malcom Delaney lead the Hokies in scoring with 8 each.

 8:42p.m.  Malcom Delaney had the final 6 points for the Hokies in the half as they trail Duke 39-31.  Back soon with halftime stats, surprised this game as this close after the slow start from Tech on the offensive end. 

8:38p.m. A couple buckets by Malcom Delaney has the Hokies down 36-29 with 1:48 left in the half.  Coach K called a timeout to get into his team especially Nolan Smith who got a tap on the behind from assistant Chris Collins for encouragement. 

8:32pm Sorry for the delay technical issues.  Anyway, 3:11 left in the first half Duke up 34-23.  Hokies had it as close as 6 with about 10:30 left in the half following an AD Vassallo 3, but Duke answered an extended it to as many as 13.  Once again this game shouldn't be this close right now with the way  the Hokies are playing offensively.  However, defensively they are playing hard and Duke can't seem to run away at this point.  

8:12p.m JT Thomson throws down a big slam for the Hokies than gets called for a technical for just a little too much mustard.  Stupid thing to do down 10 which is now 12 and Duke has possession of the ball.  18-6 Blue Devils

8:08pm 11:44 left in the half Duke up 16-4, but should be up by much more.  Virginia Tech is clueless offensively so far and is lucky to down by only 12 at this point. 

755pm Hokies finally on the board on a pair of Jeff Allen free throws, but trail 11-2.

 752p.m Va. Tech calls timeout just 3 minutes in down 9-0 to a fired up Duke squad. 

750p.m. Cameron Crazies enjoying the Heels loss, chanting Boston College and all-time favorite Carolina go to hell. 

 745p.m. Both teams in their ACC openers.  Virginia Tech just 1-3 since joining the league in openers, while Duke is 21-7 under Coach K with wins in 11 of last 12. 

725p.m.  The media is crowded around the television watching in shock as the #1 Tar Heels struggle against Boston College.