DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Freshman Cameron Boozer had 26 points and 12 rebounds to help No. 6 Duke hold off Georgia Tech 85-79 Wednesday to open Atlantic Coast Conference play.
Isaiah Evans added 17 points for the Blue Devils (12-1), who had fits all day with the Yellow Jackets (9-5). Georgia Tech led 43-39 at the break and by seven early in the second half, then hung on while Duke pushed forward and had several late possessions to maintain control.
Advertisement
That included Kowacie Reeves Jr. hitting a 3-pointer that brought the Jackets within 81-78 with 39.1 seconds left. But Boozer responded by calmly hitting two free throws moments later to make it a two-possession game again, while Evans hit two more with 7.9 seconds left as Duke made its final five free throws to close out the game.
It was the Blue Devils’ first action after an 82-81 loss to the current No. 1 seed. 16 Texas Tech at Madison Square Garden in New York on December 20. In that game, Duke blew a 17-point second-half lead and a double-digit margin in the final 6 1/2 minutes. And it didn’t get any easier, as the Blue Devils shot 40.6 percent overall, but just 9 of 32 (28.1 percent) from distance while missing 11 free throws.
Reeves scored 23 points and made five 3s to lead Georgia Tech, which shot 67.9 percent in the first half and finished the game at 53.7 percent — including 10 of 18 from 3-point range.
Georgia Tech has lost 20 of 22 games in the series and hasn’t won at Duke’s Cameron Indoor Stadium since March 2004.
Advertisement
To be continued
Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets host Boston College on Saturday.
Duke: The Blue Devils visit Florida State on Saturday.
___
Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Register here. AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll And https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
