Duke is looking to avoid getting caught up in an emotional victory that has created a three-way tie atop the ACC.
The 10th-ranked Blue Devils hope to avoid dropping three straight conference home games for the first time in 17 seasons Saturday when they meet Maryland.
Duke (20-4, 7-2) rallied from 10 down in the final 2 1/2 minutes Wednesday at No. 5 North Carolina, capping an 85-84 win with freshman Austin Rivers' 3-pointer at the buzzer. Rivers had season highs of six 3-pointers and 29 points in the latest chapter of one of college basketball's best rivalries.
"Obviously this is my favorite win I've ever had in my entire life," Rivers said. "And it's because we were down the whole game. The whole game, we were down."
The Blue Devils are tied for the ACC lead with the Tar Heels and No. 15 Florida State. Coach Mike Krzyzewski believes the biggest task facing his team this weekend is moving on.
"We have to make sure we're onto the next thing after the big game we had against North Carolina," Krzyzewski said. "It's an emotional thing you have to get over because you don't want to get over it when you've been involved in that great of a basketball game."
The victory came on the heels of Sunday's 78-74 overtime home loss to Miami, marking the first time Duke has dropped consecutive conference games in Durham since 2007. The Blue Devils' last three-game home ACC losing streak was a four-game slide Jan. 4-Feb. 2, 1995.
Duke has won 10 of 11 against Maryland (14-9, 4-5) and four straight home meetings. Mason Plumlee had 23 points and 12 rebounds in a 74-61 victory Jan. 25 in College Park.
"I think they've gotten better," Krzyzewski said of the Terrapins. "They played us really well up there. I mean they played a great game, a lot of energy. I think that's the type of team they've been."
The Blue Devils limited Terrell Stoglin, averaging an ACC-best 22.0 points per game, to 16 in that contest. Stoglin has averaged 27.0 in the four games since facing Duke.
"They've played really hard and have the leading scorer in the conference in Stoglin, who has really taken in the last four games 60-65 percent of their 3-point shots," Krzyzewski said. "They rely so much on him and he delivers."
Stoglin has improved greatly from last season when he missed 20 of 24 shots and totaled 11 points, 11 assists and 10 turnovers in three losses to the Blue Devils.
Maryland ended an eight-game road slide with Tuesday's 64-62 win over Clemson. Stoglin made 9 of 11 shots and scored 27 points while the Terrapins limited the Tigers to 34.9 percent shooting.
"That's a great win for us," coach Mark Turgeon said. "Now we don't have to listen to everyone say 'They're going for their first road win.' We got that behind us."
One area of concern remains turnovers. Maryland had eight against Duke but averaged 15.8 in the past four games.
"We talk about valuing possessions and we're not there yet," Turgeon said.
Sean Mosley added 16 points Tuesday. He's the only Terrapin besides Stoglin with a double-figure scoring average at 10.4.
