Duke Blue Devils Dominate the Paint to Overcome Hokies at Cassell Coliseum
The Duke Blue Devils, ranked 7th, improved their record with a hard-fought victory over the Virginia Tech Hokies. The final score read 77-67 in favor of the visitors. The Blue Devils' season tally now stands impressively while the Hokies face a setback.
At Cassell Coliseum, home of the Hokies, an intense battle unfolded on the hardwood as both teams vied for supremacy. The Blue Devils showcased their offensive efficiency by shooting an impressive 55 percent from the field and a notable 53 percent from beyond the arc. Their two-point attempts were particularly effective with a conversion rate of 56 percent.
The team's scoring was well-distributed among players, but it was their dominance in paint that stood out; they racked up an imposing 42 points in this area. Additionally, second-chance points were crucial to maintaining momentum for Duke as they capitalized with 15 points following offensive rebounds.
Defensively, Duke managed to secure a total of 38 rebounds compared to Virginia Tech's 20, which included grabbing eight offensive boards that led to those critical second-chance opportunities. Despite committing more personal fouls than their opponents—18 compared to just ten—their defensive efforts did not wane as they limited turnovers and maintained pressure throughout.
On offense, assists played a pivotal role in Duke's game plan; they tallied up an impressive count of 19 assists which contributed significantly to their scoring drives and overall fluidity on court. This teamwork allowed them to maintain control despite having fewer steals than Virginia Tech—just one against four by the opposition—and showed resilience by overcoming fourteen turnovers during play.
Virginia Tech put up a valiant fight despite falling short on several fronts. They matched Duke's two-point shooting percentage at 56 percent but struggled from three-point range where they only made six out of twenty-two attempts—a mere 27 percent success rate. Their free throw performance was strong at seventy-five percent accuracy; however, it wasn't enough against Duke’s relentless attack.
Looking ahead for fans of the Blue Devils: The next challenge awaits as they are set to face off against North Carolina Tar Heels at Dean Smith Center located in Chapel Hill on February third at six thirty PM Eastern Time Zone (ET). This encounter promises another exciting chapter in this storied rivalry and will be broadcast nationally on ESPN channel two hundred six for all eager fans ready for more action-packed basketball.