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Duke triumphed over a rugged Clemson team in Littlejohn Sunday 66-57. It was the third game without Marvin Bagley and the third win.
In the waning minutes of the second half, Clemson’s defense stymied Duke and the Tigers ran off eight straight points to cut the lead to tie it up, it looked like the sort of game that a young team could easily fumble away.
At its best and most ferocious, Littlejohn is one of the great home courts in America and when Clemson caught back up, it seemed like the crowd could push them over the top.
Didn’t happen.
After Clemson scored their eight, Duke responded with nine straight. Gary Trent hit three straight foul shots after an unwise foul by Clemson’s Scott Spencer. Then Wendell Carter hit a layup, Grayson Allen hit a pair and Carter closed it out with another pair.
Sounds easier than it was.
Despite not having point guard Shelton Mitchell and senior star Donte Grantham, Clemson really made Duke work for it. Although Allen had 17 in the first half he finished the game with just two more and Carter was shut out from the floor in the opening 20. Gary Trent hit just 3-10 from the floor. Javin DeLaurier had 10 rebounds but just one basket. Overall, Clemson held Duke to 38.8%.
But Duke, which has struggled with defense all year, held Clemson to just 34.4% and nearly shut Gabe DeVoe out, limiting him to one late three.
And Trevon Duval, who has had a bit of a learning curve as a freshman, picked off the Tigers four times and ran the point for the most part as well as he has all year.
Despite the lack of offensive efficiency, this was one of the more intense and competitive ACC games of the year. Both teams were missing key players but stepped up and showed immense heart.
With the win Duke now has sole possession of second place in the ACC.
- Duke men’s basketball scores last 9 points to escape with key road win at Clemson
- Duke beats Clemson in a nail-bitter, grabs sole possession of second place in the ACC
- Five observations from Duke’s close win against Clemson
- Feeling Blue: Clemson comes close, can’t get past Duke at home
- Sapakoff: Duke, Clemson and adjustments, Coach K’s one-and does vs. Brownell’s transfers
- With Bagley out, Grayson Allen surging in new role as Duke’s offensive leader
- Duke not afraid to let its emotions show in big victory at Clemson
- Unable to overcome Gabe DeVoe and Marcquise Reed’s struggles, No. 11 Clemson basketball team falls to No. 12 Duke
- Duke holds off Clemson, deals Tigers first home defeat of season
- Offensive struggles cost Clemson against Duke
- Krzyzewski on Yahoo! Sports FBI report: ‘I haven’t followed it at all’
- No. 10 Duke holds off No. 12 Clemson for major ACC road win
- No. 12 Duke beats No. 11 Clemson as defensive resurgence continues
- Tigers suffer painful loss to Duke
- Top 5 Plays - Clemson
- Coach K Postgame Press Conference - Clemson
- Box Score (HTML)
- Season Stats (HTML)
- Box Score (PDF)
- Season Stats (PDF)
Poll
Player of the game vs. Clemson
This poll is closed
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61%
Grayson Allen
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20%
Wendell Carter
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5%
Javin DeLaurier
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8%
Trevon Duval
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1%
Gary Trent
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1%
Marques Bolden
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1%
Jack White
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