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Duke normally has a tough time at PNC Arena.
Not on Saturday.
The Blue Devils used a hot start from the 3-point line and a return defensive effort to accelerate NC State 69-53.
Duke (8-8, 6-6 ACC) had lost four of his previous five games at PNC Arena. The Blue Devils used a 17-2 inning in the first half to take control of the game.
Duke’s coach Mike Krzyzewski, who turned 74 on Saturday, said improving defense was at the center of the training leading up to this game.
“I’m proud of my guys,” Krzyzewski said. “They really responded to what we practiced.”
Duke made five of his first seven 3-pointers and finished 9 of 18. He made 51 percent of his field goals for the game. Sophomore forward Matthew Hurt led a balanced effort for the Devils with 24 points. First-year forward Mark Williams added 13 points and five blocks, a season-high.
“Mark is getting better and better,” Krzyzewski said. “He’s learning to play physically.”
NC State (8-9, 4-8) was slow off the jump and couldn’t bring up the usual mojo it has for a home game with the Blue Devils. The Wolfpack returned the ball over 18 times and shot 20% of the 3-point line. This is the second game in a row that NC State has had an issue with turnovers. He was 20 in Tuesday’s loss to Syracuse.
“We have to tighten up and take care of the ball,” said Shakeel Moore, NC state guard. “It’s 18 chances we don’t have to score. We need those possessions. Possessions matter in this league.”
Moore led the Wolfpack with 13 points. NC State missed his first six 3 points and finished the game 2 of 10. He didn’t make his first 3 until 7:30 am in the second half.
NC State coach Kevin Keatts was particularly dismayed by the 13 turnovers in the first period on Saturday.
“When I saw the halftime stats sheet, I almost lost my mind,” Keatts said. “I think it’s something we can fix, but we need to fix it quickly.”
For Duke, it was a game “for good” as he tries to work a late-season miracle to extend his NCAA tournament streak, which began in 1996.
The Devils entered the game on a three-game losing streak and lost points. It started with a 77-75 loss to Miami on February 1 and continued with back-to-back losses to North Carolina (91-87) and Notre Dame (93-89).
Duke turned an 11-10 lead into a 28-12 margin at 9:05 in the first half. The Devils got five points each from Hurt and Wendell Moore during the race.
For NC State, it was another disappointing loss in a series of them. From a 2-0 start in the ACC game, the Wolfpack has gone 2-8.
Unlike closer losses to Virginia or Syracuse, this one looked more like the Florida State explosion (105-73) on January 13.
It was the last game NC State played before its season was suspended for the second time by COVID-19 protocols. The team has not been the same since the second break.
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