Duke Gets Past Stubborn Virgina, Faces N.C. State In Semifinals

WRALSportsFan

Duke Gets Past Stubborn Virgina, Faces N.C. State In Semifinals

Mar 12, 2005

comments

POST

WASHINGTON — Lee Melchionni and Daniel Ewing scored 16 points apiece as fifth-ranked Duke defeated Virginia, 76-64, in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament at the MCI Center.

J.J. Redick tallied 15 points for the Blue Devils (23-5), who will face seventh-seeded North Carolina State in the semifinals on Saturday. Shelden Williams finished with 10 points and 12 rebounds in Duke's fifth win in six tries.

"I'm pleased with my team," Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "We knew that Virginia was going to be difficult because they won a really tough game last night and with them starting four perimeter guys who can really shoot, we were really concerned about them."

Sean Singletary led the way for Virginia (14-15) with 16 points and seven rebounds. Devin Smith added 13 points as the Cavaliers lost for the sixth time in seven games. J.R. Reynolds contributed 11 points in the losing effort.

"I was proud of our team," Virginia head coach Pete Gillen said. "We are disappointed losing. We didn't have much gas left in the tank. Duke is a great team. I think the end of the first half hurt us. We got a little out of kilter."

Elton Brown gave the Cavaliers their largest lead of the first half when his trey at the 9:09 mark made it 23-16.

The Blue Devils countered with an 8-0 surge, highlighted by Ewing's three- pointer, staking them to their first lead since 15:59 of the stanza.

Duke continued to pour it on the remainder of the half, using a 16-5 surge to capture a 40-28 lead heading into the locker room. Melchionni knocked down two trey's during the flurry, while David McClure chipped in seven points.

The Cavaliers opened the second half with a 13-3 run to get back in the game. Reynolds capped the surge with his three-point play at 16:05.

Leading 45-43, the Blue Devils were able to pull ahead once again as Redick sparked a 10-2 run with a jumper from beyond the arc.

Duke's lead would grow to 12 with just over six minutes remaining and the Cavaliers didn't get any closer than eight points the rest of the way.

Game Notes:

Duke improved to 14-3 all-time against Virginia in the ACC Tournament...The Blue Devils trail North Carolina by one game for most wins in tournament history with 75...Virginia shot a dismal 38 percent from the floor...Duke connected on 10-of-28 attempts from three-point distance in the win.