Duke Returns To Durham To Host Wake Forest For First Meeting Of The Season

Duke has won eight straight games.

Next up for the second ranked team in the country? A return to Durham where they will host Wake Forest on Saturday night for the first meeting of the season between the two Atlantic Coast Conference teams before the rematch forty five days later in Winston Salem on Tuesday February 25th.

Duke comes into the game with a record of 14-1 while they’re 4-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference and leading the way in the standings while Wake Forest comes into the game with a record of 8-6 while they’re 1-3 in the Atlantic Coast Conference twelfth in the Atlantic Coast Conference standings. “according to http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/conferences/teams/_/id/2/acc-conference

As for Duke’s previous game,

They won a close one on the road over Georgia Tech in Atlanta.

  Tre Jones hit two key baskets down the stretch and No. 2 Duke held off Georgia Tech 73-64 on Wednesday night. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2020/1/8/mens-basketball-no-2-duke-pulls-away-from-georgia-tech-73-64.aspx

The Blue Devils (14-1, 4-0 ACC) extended their winning streak to eight in a row, and their firm hold on this series goes back much further. Georgia Tech (7-7, 2-2) has lost 13 straight to Duke since its last victory over the Blue Devils on Jan. 9, 2010 -- almost 10 years ago to the day.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2020/1/8/mens-basketball-no-2-duke-pulls-away-from-georgia-tech-73-64.aspx

Jones led the Blue Devils with 16 points, including a pull-up jumper that snapped a 61-all tie and another floater in the lane that extended the edge to 68-64.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2020/1/8/mens-basketball-no-2-duke-pulls-away-from-georgia-tech-73-64.aspx

Cassius Stanley and Vernon Carey Jr. added 14 apiece. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2020/1/8/mens-basketball-no-2-duke-pulls-away-from-georgia-tech-73-64.aspx

Turning up the defensive pressure, Duke appeared to take control with a 12-0 run late in the first half. All six baskets in the outburst were layups or dunks, three of them set up by Georgia Tech turnovers.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2020/1/8/mens-basketball-no-2-duke-pulls-away-from-georgia-tech-73-64.aspx

 Duke went to the locker room with a 40-29 edge after Jones slipped under the basket to tip in a missed 3-pointer by Matthew Hurt, the ball dropping through the hoop just as the red light came on. The referees briefly reviewed the play before ruling it beat the expiring clock. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2020/1/8/mens-basketball-no-2-duke-pulls-away-from-georgia-tech-73-64.aspx

Unlike Duke,

Wake Forest didn’t win their previous game as they lost Florida State who is ranked tenth in this weeks AP Top 25 poll.

Wake Forest had it's three-game win streak snapped Wednesday night with a 78-68 loss to No.10 Florida State at the LJVM Coliseum. The Seminoles (14-2, 4-1 ACC) extended their win streak to seven straight, while the Demon Deacons fell to 8-6 (1-3 ACC).   “according to https://godeacs.com/news/2020/1/8/wake-forest-falls-to-10th-ranked-florida-state.aspx

Brandon Childress led the Demon Deacons with 20 points and five assists, posting his fourth 20-point game of the season.Olivier Sarr added 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds. “according to https://godeacs.com/news/2020/1/8/wake-forest-falls-to-10th-ranked-florida-state.aspx

HOW IT HAPPENED 
Florida State jumped out to a quick start, taking an early 15-3 lead. Despite cold shooting in the first half, the Demon Deacons took advantage of a season-high 22 first-half free throw attempts, making 18 of them and cut the lead to two at 30-28 on a three-pointer from Ismael Massoud. The Seminoles took a 41-34 lead into halftime as Sarr led the Deacs with 10 points and five rebounds in the first half.”according to https://godeacs.com/news/2020/1/8/wake-forest-falls-to-10th-ranked-florida-state.aspx

The Deacs opened the second half on a 11-0 run, matching their best run of the season. Six of the 11 points came from Childress as Wake took a 45-41 lead, their first lead of the night. The Seminoles answered with a 7-0 run of their own to retake the lead, 48-45.”according to https://godeacs.com/news/2020/1/8/wake-forest-falls-to-10th-ranked-florida-state.aspx

Florida State pushed the lead back to as many as 13 points late in the second half before closing out the 10-point victory. “according to https://godeacs.com/news/2020/1/8/wake-forest-falls-to-10th-ranked-florida-state.aspx

Tip-off is set for 8:00pm from Cameron Indoor Stadium. The game will be televised on the ACC Network.