Blue Devils hold off Hokies for 70-65 OT win

Duke's Austin Rivers is fouled by Virginia Tech's Erick Green as he drives to the basket. CHUCK LIDDY - cliddy@newsobserver.com

Updated 4:28 p.m.

DURHAM – Duke betrayed its weariness throughout its 70-65 overtime win over Virginia Tech on Saturday.

Austin Rivers would drive to the basket with some fancy footwork, but his shot would stay on the front rim, lacking the energy to tumble through the hoop. Or Rivers would get to the free-throw line and then miss one of his two shots by leaving the ball short.

Seth Curry would rise for an open 3-pointer, overcompensate for his tired legs and watch the ball sail long.

During one stretch in the first half, the entire Blue Devils team passed on the opportunity to dive on the floor for a loose ball. Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski called a timeout after that and chewed out his players for their lethargy.

Yet by the end of regulation and overtime, No. 5 Duke (25-4, 12-2) had fought through its fatigue to outlast the pesky Hokies (15-14, 4-10). With the win, the Blue Devils maintained the momentum they gained with their physical triumph over Florida State on Thursday.

After describing that victory as “hellacious,” Krzyzewski said Saturday’s effort left him especially joyful.

“The really good teams that we’ve had here – and we’ve had a lot of them – there’s players on those teams who will fight whether they’re fresh, medium or completely exhausted,” Krzyzewski said. “If you have a team of them, you might win a national championship.”

Rivers had 22 points to lead the Blue Devils while Curry finished with 19.

The 58 points Duke scored in regulation were a season-low, replacing the 61 points it mustered against Virginia. The Blue Devils had 12 turnovers against seven assists.

“We missed some open looks that we normally hit,” Duke’s Ryan Kelly said.

Duke started Saturday’s game relatively strong, taking a 23-16 lead in the latter stages of the first half. But by the time the Hokies took a 40-37 edge halfway through the second half, one had the feeling there was going to be another interesting conclusion at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Duke responded to the Hokies’ three-point lead with a 9-0 run (Curry scored seven points during that stretch), but Virginia Tech got right back in it, pulling ahead 49-48 after a jumper by Erick Green with 5:52 remaining.

From then on, no team led by more than three points in regulation. The Hokies led by that many after a 3-pointer by Dorenzo Hunter with 1:29 remaining, but Mason Plumlee grabbed the offensive rebound on a missed 3-pointer and made a layup to cut the Virginia Tech lead to 58-57. Rivers then made one of two free throws with 32 seconds left.

It was one of five times in the final 5 minutes of regulation and in overtime that Rivers went 1-of-2 from the line.

“A lot of guys’ legs were short,” Rivers said. ”You could see on the free-throw line that the free throws I did miss were all short at the front of the rim. Because they felt good; I thought they were all in.”

Virginia Tech had a chance to win at the end of regulation, but Green missed on a contested drive. Cadarian Raines got his hands on the offensive rebound, but he couldn’t get his follow lay-up attempt to fall.

The Blue Devils were the stronger team in overtime, although the Hokies had some chances. After making a rainbow 3-pointer, Hudson missed a tough fadeaway from the corner that would have tied the score with 34 seconds left.

In the locker room after the game, Duke seemed as relieved as excited.

There were only two things written on the whiteboard at the front of the locker room where team activities for the following day are posted – treatment was scheduled for noon and study hall was slated for 2 p.m.

Otherwise, Sunday will be a day of rest.

“You’re fighting human nature in a game like this,” Miles Plumlee said. “Coming off a physical, big-time win on the road with a day to prepare – it’s just tough. Our team’s will to win was great tonight, and we’re happy to come out on top.”