Duke To Host Syracuse For Big Monday Matchup

To begin the week top ranked Duke will host Syracuse for a Big Monday game in Durham.

The last time Duke played Syracuse was in the Regional Final where they topped Syracuse 69-65 in the in Omaha Nebraska on March 23 2018. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211786459

Duke comes into the game with a record of 14-1 while they’re 3-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference while Syracuse comes into the game with a record of 11-5 while they’re 2-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

As for Duke’s previous game, they topped Florida State in Tallahassee in the final seconds.

Cam Reddish hit a 3-pointer with 0.8 seconds left to lead No. 1 Duke past No. 13 Florida State, 80-78 on Saturday. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211786343&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Reddish caught the ball on the wing off the inbounds pass and made a wide open 3-pointer to ensure that Duke (14-1, 3-0 ACC) would win its ninth straight game. He finished with 23 points on 9 of 15 shooting. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211786343&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Duke played the second half without star freshman Zion Williamson, who left the game after getting poked in the eye late in the first half. He didn't return and had 11 points and eight rebounds in 17 minutes. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211786343&DB_OEM_ID=4200

P.J. Savoy made a pair of free throws with 15.8 seconds left, just seconds after forcing a turnover, to put Florida State ahead 78-76 RJ Barrett, who finished with 32 points on 10 of 19 shooting, then hit the first of two free throws with 5 seconds left. He missed the second, but the Blue Devils retained possession after a review overruled a call on the floor that the ball had gone out of bounds of a Duke player setting up Reddish's shot. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211786343&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Wiilliamson got hurt when he drove to the basket. Florida State's Trent Forrest hit the freshman in the face and Williamson landed hard on the court. He stayed down for several moments covering his face. He saw a trainer and went to the locker room just before the half ended. Williamson sat on the bench for the second half, but didn't play. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211786343&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Mfiondu Kabengele came off the bench to record his third career double-double, recording tying a career-high with 24 points and 10 rebounds for Florida State (13-3, 1-2). Phil Cofer made five 3-pointers and had a season-high 21 points. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211786343&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Florida State last hosted a No. 1 team exactly eight years ago, knocking off Duke 66-61 on Jan. 12, 2011. This time the Seminoles fell just short. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211786343&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Despite three Syracuse (11-5, 2-1 ACC) players reaching double-digit scoring, Georgia Tech (10-6, 2-1 ACC) handed the Orange their first ACC loss of the season, 73-59, Saturday evening at the Carrier Dome. “according to https://cuse.com/news/2019/1/12/mens-basketball-three-reach-double-digit-points-in-loss-to-georgia-tech.aspx

Unlike Duke, Syracuse lost their previous game as they lost to Georgia Tech.
 
Oshae Brissett led the Orange with 15 points followed by 12 from Elijah Hughes and 11 from Tyus Battle. Marek Dolezaj contributed six rebounds and four steals. “according to https://cuse.com/news/2019/1/12/mens-basketball-three-reach-double-digit-points-in-loss-to-georgia-tech.aspx

HOW IT HAPPENED
With a one-point advantage Georgia Tech wasted no time, outscoring the Orange 24-7 for a expansive 51-33 lead early in the second half. The Yellow Jackets began the period on a 10-of-13 shooting performance that included a 4-of-5 result from three-point range. Jose Alvarado led the charge with 10 points in the run after kicking off the half with a mid-range jump shot. Banks III followed with a dunk before Alvarado kept the speed going with a pair of three-pointers. “according to https://cuse.com/news/2019/1/12/mens-basketball-three-reach-double-digit-points-in-loss-to-georgia-tech.aspx
 
SLOW START
Both teams struggled to get going in the first half, opening the game scoreless for the first two minutes. After a three-pointer from Battle, Georgia Tech went on a 7-0 run for a 13-8 lead. The Orange responded with a 12-2 run taking a 20-15 advantage, its largest of the half. Neither team was able to grab any momentum with 17 combined first-half turnovers as Georgia Tech took a narrow 27-26 margin into halftime. “according to https://cuse.com/news/2019/1/12/mens-basketball-three-reach-double-digit-points-in-loss-to-georgia-tech.aspx
 
ORANGE LOOK TO FIGHT BACK
After going down 51-35, Syracuse was able to combine for eight unanswered points led by back-to-back three-pointers from Boeheim. The Yellow Jackets countered with a free throw and layup, holding onto a 13-point advantage, 54-41. “according to https://cuse.com/news/2019/1/12/mens-basketball-three-reach-double-digit-points-in-loss-to-georgia-tech.aspx
 
Hughes and Brissett each connected on a pair of free throws trying to reign in the Yellow Jackets, 56-45. Georgia Tech however, also took advantage of their chances at the free throw line with three for a 59-45 lead. Hughes' found an answer with a field goal keeping the game within reach, 59-47, but the Orange were unable to get a stop defensively to close the gap. “according to https://cuse.com/news/2019/1/12/mens-basketball-three-reach-double-digit-points-in-loss-to-georgia-tech.aspx
 
OF NOTE

• Howard, Battle, Hughes, Brissett and Dolezaj made up the starting lineup for the fifth-consecutive game. Saturday marked the first loss of the season with that starting lineup.

• Georgia Tech took a 6-5 advantage in the all-time series, and becomes the first away team to take a victory in the last four contests between the two schools.

• The Yellow Jackets shot a season-high .595 field goal percentage (25-of-42).

• The loss snapped Syracuse's four-game win streak.

• Saturday marked the ninth-straight game for Hughes in double-digits and the 14th overall this season “according to https://cuse.com/news/2019/1/12/mens-basketball-three-reach-double-digit-points-in-loss-to-georgia-tech.aspx

  Tip-off is set for 7:00pm from Cameron Indoor Stadium. The game will be televised on ESPN.