Frosh duo helps No. 8 Duke beat Wake Forest without Coach K
AP
Jan 13, 2022
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) Paolo Banchero had 24 points and eighth-ranked Duke Blue Devils hit 13 straight shots to blow it open after halftime and beat Wake Forest Demon Deacons 76-64 on Wednesday night with Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski sidelined by illness.
Fellow freshman A.J. Griffin had a season-high 22 points to help the Blue Devils bounce back from a weekend home loss to Miami. They did it with the retiring longtime Duke coach out with what the school called a ''non-COVID-related virus,'' while associate head coach Jon Scheyer - designated as Krzyzewski's successor after this season - worked as acting coach.
Banchero and Griffin led the way as the Blue Devils (13-2, 3-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) suddenly stretched out a two-possession lead in the final minute of the first half - then carried a scorchingly hot hand into the second that wobbled the Demon Deacons (13-4, 3-3) for good.
Griffin ended the first half by pump-faking Khadim Sy off his feet and then stepping over to knock down a corner 3-pointer just before the horn for the 35-29 lead. The Blue Devils made their last four shots of the first half, then roared out of the break by making their first nine shots.
Alondes Williams scored 25 points for the Demon Deacons, who had the Blue Devils in a tight game coming down the first-half stretch and led 29-27 on Dallas Walton's and-1 dunk with 54.1 seconds left. But the Demon Deacons erased a stretch of quality minutes with a shaky finish that jumpstarted Duke's run-turned-landslide.
BIG PICTURE
Duke: This was the Blue Devils' third game back from a COVID-19 outbreak that led to two postponements. They returned by shooting a season-low 37% in the win against Georgia Tech, then committed a season-worst 17 turnovers in the Miami loss. Along the way, Krzyzewski said it would take time for the Blue Devils to rebuild their conditioning to full-go game shape. This time, Duke shot 61% after halftime and 51% for the game while also making 7 of 15 3-pointers, with Griffin in particular continuing to blossom.
Wake Forest: Second-year coach Steve Forbes has brought a spark to the program after years of struggle, and it showed here with a loud home crowd - including a full and rowdy student section commonplace for the Chris Paul era in the mid-2000s. The Demon Deacons gave reason for the buzz by erasing an early eight-point hole and getting into a tight game, only to see this one unravel with a few ill-timed turnovers just before halftime to help Duke make its move.
UP NEXT
Duke: Hosts North Carolina State on Saturday.
Wake Forest: At Virginia on Saturday.
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1st Half
DUKE
Blue Devils
35
WAKE
Demon Deacons
29
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Mark Williams vs. Dallas Walton (Wendell Moore Jr. gains possession)
19:40
+2
Paolo Banchero makes two point layup
2-0
19:17
Dallas Walton misses two point hook shot
19:15
Paolo Banchero defensive rebound
18:49
+2
Trevor Keels makes two point layup
4-0
18:28
Paolo Banchero personal foul (Jake LaRavia draws the foul)
18:18
+2
Dallas Walton makes two point hook shot
4-2
18:01
+3
AJ Griffin makes three point jump shot (Paolo Banchero assists)
7-2
17:42
Isaiah Mucius misses three point jump shot
17:40
Wendell Moore Jr. defensive rebound
17:30
+2
Paolo Banchero makes two point hook shot
9-2
17:17
+2
Alondes Williams makes two point jump shot
9-4
16:47
Mark Williams misses two point hook shot
16:45
Jake LaRavia defensive rebound
16:34
Alondes Williams turnover (bad pass)
16:17
+2
Paolo Banchero makes two point jump shot
11-4
15:59
Isaiah Mucius misses three point jump shot
15:57
Alondes Williams offensive rebound
15:50
Jump ball. Dallas Walton vs. Paolo Banchero (Dallas Walton gains possession)
15:46
TV timeout
15:42
Isaiah Mucius turnover (lost ball) (Wendell Moore Jr. steals)
15:41
Jake LaRavia shooting foul (Wendell Moore Jr. draws the foul)
15:41
Wendell Moore Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2
15:41
+1
Wendell Moore Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2
12-4
15:28
Alondes Williams misses three point jump shot
15:26
Paolo Banchero defensive rebound
15:14
Theo John turnover (lost ball) (Jake LaRavia steals)
14:47
Alondes Williams turnover (bad pass)
14:29
Paolo Banchero misses three point jump shot
14:27
Khadim Sy defensive rebound
14:18
Jeremy Roach personal foul (Daivien Williamson draws the foul)
13:55
Alondes Williams turnover (lost ball)
13:45
Khadim Sy personal foul (Blue Devils draws the foul)
13:41
Jake LaRavia blocks Joey Baker's two point jump shot
13:39
Daivien Williamson defensive rebound
13:37
+2
Alondes Williams makes two point dunk (Daivien Williamson assists)
12-6
13:12
Jake LaRavia shooting foul (Joey Baker draws the foul)
13:12
+1
Joey Baker makes regular free throw 1 of 3
13-6
13:12
Joey Baker misses regular free throw 2 of 3
13:12
Joey Baker misses regular free throw 3 of 3
13:12
Daivien Williamson defensive rebound
12:54
Theo John personal foul (Alondes Williams draws the foul)
12:49
Alondes Williams turnover (lost ball) (Jeremy Roach steals)
12:35
Wendell Moore Jr. misses two point jump shot
12:33
Cameron Hildreth defensive rebound
12:15
Dallas Walton misses three point jump shot
12:13
Cameron Hildreth offensive rebound
12:07
+3
Alondes Williams makes three point jump shot (Cameron Hildreth assists)
13-9
11:37
Jeremy Roach misses two point jump shot
11:35
Theo John offensive rebound
11:28
Theo John misses two point layup
11:26
Dallas Walton defensive rebound
11:22
Theo John shooting foul (Daivien Williamson draws the foul)
11:22
TV timeout
11:22
+1
Daivien Williamson makes regular free throw 1 of 2
13-10
11:22
Daivien Williamson misses regular free throw 2 of 2