Duke Blue Devils –5.5 at Maryland Terrapins
Duke Blue Devils recovered from an ugly first half to beat the Maryland Terrapins 2007-2008 NCAA Men’s Basketball at Comcast Center Sunday night. 93-84 in the
NCAA oddsmakers gave Duke Blue Devils –5.5 against the home team Maryland Terrapins. Duke Blue Devils won the game and the spread with the help of Blue Devils senior DeMarcus Nelson, who scored 19 of his 27 points in the second half.
Gerald Henderson added 23 for Duke Blue Devils, which had not trailed by more than six points in any game before falling behind 51-42 at halftime. Blue Devils senior DeMarcus Nelson leading the way, the Blue Devils (17-1, 5-0 ACC) turned in a surgical performance in a hostile environment over the final 20 minutes to earn their seventh straight win.
“DeMarcus led us so well, he was strong in every sense of the word. We kind of rode him. He just gave our team the strength that it needed.” Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said.
Duke Blue Devils shot 53 percent in the second half, outrebounded the taller Terrapins 22-15 and outscored Maryland 51-33.
Duke launched its comeback at the outset of the second half by making three straight baskets, two by DeMarcus Nelson, after Maryland opened with three successive turnovers. A three-point play by DeMarcus Nelson got the Blue Devils to 57-55, and minutes later a 3-pointer by Kyle Singler put Duke up 64-63.
James Gist scored 26 and Bambale Osby had 20 points and 15 rebounds, both career highs, for Maryland Terrapins (12-8, 2-3).
“In the first half we played with a lot of energy. We didn’t come out with the same energy [after] halftime,” Maryland Terrapins coach Gary Williams said.
Maryland Terrapins was coming off an 82-80 win on the road against then-No. 1 North Carolina. That was eight days earlier, and unfortunately for the Terrapins, the momentum generated from that breakthrough victory could not be sustained.
Duke Blue Devils’ next game will be against the North Carolina State while Maryland Terrapins battle Virginia Cavaliers.
Other Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Results
January 27, 2008
Miami beat Clemson 75-72, Clemson Tigers at Miami Hurricanes –1
Key Players: Jack McClinton scored 16 points, including three dramatic 3-pointers to snapped a three game losing streak for the Miami Hurricanes. Demontez Stitt of Clemson Tigers: 15 points, 5 rebounds.
Georgia Tech holds off Virginia 92- 82 OT. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Virginia Cavaliers –4.5
Key Players: Matt Causey scored 12 of his 18 points in overtime for Georgia Tech. Sean Singletary of Virginia Cavaliers scored 11 points and dished out 8 assists.
Upcoming Atlantic Coast Conference Schedule
Miami vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons January 29
Clemson vs. Boston College February 2
Georgia Tech vs. Maryland on February 2
Virginia Cavaliers vs. Maryland on January 30
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