WASHINGTON—No. 2-seed Duke made the quick journey as much as the nation’s capital Thursday night for a conflict with No. 10-seed N.C. State, trying to ebook a spot within the semifinals of the ACC event. With a hard-fought first half behind them, the Blue Devils path the Wolfpack 35-32:
Slippery fingers
Three of the primary 4 mixed offensive units led to turnovers, with sophomores Mark Mitchell and Kyle Filipowski giving it up on the Blue Devils’ first and second possessions. Filipowski recovered rapidly after his giveaway to power a steal on DJ Burns Jr. The defensive prowess on either side was the shining star — actually, the one star — by way of the opening minutes, with six complete steals (on six turnovers) earlier than the under-16 timeout. Whereas the scoring did warmth up, the steal-to-turnover ratio remained excessive all through.
Gone chilly
Duke didn’t make its first try from the ground for greater than four-and-a-half minutes. The primary factors of the competition as an entire got here on two Jared McCain free throws 3:23 into the half. The chilly begin was eerily paying homage to final 12 months’s demolition in Raleigh, by which each groups have been scoreless for simply as lengthy. The Blue Devils took their fair proportion of pictures, however almost each jumper clanged off the rim. On the 14-minute mark, sophomore guard Tyrese Proctor pulled up for a 3-pointer that was simply off. Veteran Jeremy Roach was capable of corral the rock because it bounced by way of the paint, getting the ball to McCain for a two-point jumper. Nevertheless, with a decrease field-goal proportion and no threes besides on the second media timeout, Duke noticed itself at a six-point deficit with loads of offensive floor to make up.
Enchancment on the glass
After being outrebounded by 11 by North Carolina final Saturday, the Blue Devils crashed the glass in their very own rebound sport. Whereas their pictures wouldn’t fall, they have been capable of haul in six offensive boards to increase their struggling possessions. McCain continued to wow along with his knack for grabbing defensive rebounds, elevating over members of the Wolfpack to seize the ball after a missed Jayden Taylor shot. Whereas the distinction didn’t keep as extreme, Duke was capable of keep that benefit all through the opening body, ending up 20-16.
The DJs
It wasn’t solely Burns this time. DJ Horne was out in opposition to Louisville in N.C. State’s first-round win, however got here again in opposition to Syracuse and burned the Orange for 16 factors within the upset win. He didn’t do a lot within the Wolfpack’s regular-season loss to Duke, however he obtained concerned early Thursday evening, coming off the bench greater than three minutes in and going off for 12 factors. Horne didn’t depart the courtroom for the remainder of the half. Burns, who cooked the Blue Devils for 27 factors in Raleigh early final week, was saved comparatively quiet. The 6-foot-9 ahead solely had 5 factors and two rebounds.
Participant of the half: Kyle Filipowski
After a down first half 5 days in the past in Cameron Indoor Stadium, Filipowski was his crew’s saving grace within the early minutes of the half. He was the one Blue Satan with success from the ground, making three of his crew’s first 5 area targets and grabbing 5 rebounds. After Michael O’Connell discovered a lane on the fast-break with simply greater than eight minutes to play to increase the Wolfpack result in 4, Filipowski responded with a bang, catching a fast go from McCain and going straight to the rim for the dunk. His 12 factors (on 6-for-7 capturing) went hand-in-hand along with his three steals. He had game-tying and go-ahead layups greater than two-thirds of the way in which by way of the interval.
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| Sports activities Managing Editor
Rachael Kaplan is a Trinity junior and sports activities managing editor of The Chronicle’s 119th quantity.