Duke Wins Close One In Atlanta Over Georgia Tech

Whoever said Atlantic Coast Conference play was going to be easy?

No one!

Second ranked Duke found that out when they traveled to Atlanta to play a Georgia Tech team that had just won in Chapel Hill against Duke’s tobacco road rival North Carolina and they probably thought they could upset another team from tobacco road.

Turns out that wasn’t the case as second ranked Duke survived in Atlanta and picked up their eighth consecutive win.

  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

While Duke’s win streak extended to eight games Georgia Tech meanwhile didn’t get to celebrate another win over a team located on tobacco road like they did days earlier in Chapel Hill with their win over Duke’s tobacco road rival North Carolina.

Georgia Tech men’s basketball pushed No. 2 Duke to the brink, but a scoring drought over the final three minutes doomed it in the 73-64 loss on Wednesday at McCamish Pavilion.

The Yellow Jackets (7-8, 2-3 ACC) battled furiously, jumping out to a 14-6 lead to start the game, before using a 9-0 in the second half to regain the lead 59-58. The Blue Devils (14-1, 4-0 ACC) capitalized on Tech’s cold-streak, going on a 12-3 run over the final 4:17 of the game to get the decision.”according to https://ramblinwreck.com/duke-outlasts-georgia-tech/

Tech was led by junior guard Jose Alvarado’s 18 points and five assists as he finished as one of four Jackets in double figures. He joined senior James Banks III (14), junior Moses Wright (12) and sophomore Michael Devoe (12), with Banks III hauling in his fourth double-double of the year and Wright his fifth. Banks III finished with a season-high 15 rebounds, with seven blocks to boot, while Wright dragged down 10 boards, helping Tech hold a 39-30 rebounding edge on the night. “according to https://ramblinwreck.com/duke-outlasts-georgia-tech/

Duke’s Tre Jones led the way with 14 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, while Cassius Stanley (14), Vernon Carey (11) and Matthew Hurt (11) rounded out the other double-figure scorers.”according to https://ramblinwreck.com/duke-outlasts-georgia-tech/

Only four teams this season have played the second-ranked Blue Devils to within 10 points as Georgia Tech joins Stephen F. Austin (+2), Georgetown (-8) and No. 3 Kansas (-2).”according to https://ramblinwreck.com/duke-outlasts-georgia-tech/

Duke who is ranked second in this weeks AP Top 25 poll will return to Durham for their next game as they will host Wake Forest on Saturday night.