March 3, 2004
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By AARON BEARD
Associated Press Writer
DURHAM, N.C. – Georgia Tech’s athleticism and physical defense put an end to Duke’s long home winning streak Wednesday night.
Luke Schenscher scored 14 points, including several key second-half baskets, to lead the 19th-ranked Yellow Jackets to a 76-68 victory that snapped the third-ranked Blue Devils’ 41-game home winning streak.
Jarrett Jack had 15 points for the Yellow Jackets (21-8, 8-7 Atlantic Coast Conference), who had lost 15 straight to Duke. B.J. Elder and Isma’il Muhammad each added 12 points to help the Yellow Jackets beat the Blue Devils for the first time since the 1995-96 season.
“Over the years, Duke’s been the elite team in the conference, especially winning the tournament five years in a row,” Jack said. “Coming out and beating them on their home floor is a big statement.”
Duke (24-4, 12-3) lost at home for the first time since falling to Maryland 91-80 in February 2001. Pittsburgh’s 40-game home winning streak was ended by Syracuse on Sunday, and the current longest streak is 28 games by Wisconsin, Austin Peay and Stephen F. Austin.
Georgia Tech gave Duke trouble from the start with its athleticism, pushing the ball up the court and through the Blue Devils’ defense. The Yellow Jackets penetrated effectively for good shots, shooting 51 percent and scoring 38 points in the paint.
In addition, Georgia Tech played physical man-to-man defense, blocking 11 shots and holding the Blue Devils to 34 percent shooting. Duke finished with 20 turnovers.
Duke led 16-14 midway through the first half, but the Yellow Jackets went ahead to stay with a 17-3 run that gave them a 12-point lead. The Blue Devils managed to tie it midway through the second half, but Georgia Tech continually answered Duke’s spurts with runs of their own.
As the final seconds ticked off, Marvin Lewis raised his arms while Jack jumped around as he dribbled the ball. Once the horn sounded, the Yellow Jackets’ bench spilled onto the Cameron Indoor Stadium court in celebration.
To come in this building and play the way they did, I can’t tell you how proud I am and happy I am for them. Paul Hewitt |
It was the highest-ranked opponent Georgia Tech had beaten on the road since winning at No. 1 North Carolina in February 1994. The Yellow Jackets had lost the three previous meetings here by 20, 25 and 44 points.
“To come in this building and play the way they did, I can’t tell you how proud I am and happy I am for them,” said coach Paul Hewitt, who earned his first win in eight tries against Duke. “We came into this building the last three years and walked out of here feeling pretty low.”
J.J. Redick scored 20 of his 24 points in the second half for the Blue Devils, while Chris Duhon had 11 points, seven assists and seven steals. Freshman Luol Deng, who came in averaging 14.7 points and 6.9 rebounds, had three points on 1-for-14 shooting.
Duke never had the edge that had carried them to lopsided wins and dominating defensive performances here, even after coach Mike Krzyzewski was whistled for a technical foul for arguing a non-call in the first half.
The Blue Devils had already clinched at least a share of the ACC regular season title for the sixth time in eight seasons, but a win would have given it to them outright.
“They just wanted it more than us tonight, and it hurts to say that,” Duhon said. “For us to come and let another team want it more than us, it’s sickening.
“We should have been maniacs. Instead, we let our coach be the maniac and we didn’t respond to him. And we got what we deserved.”
Luke Schenscher outjumps teammate Isma’il Muhammad and Duke defenders.
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Redick went 4-for-9 from behind the arc in the second half, and tied the game at 56 with a 3 from the left wing with 7:02 left.
But Elder put Georgia Tech back ahead with two free throws 8 seconds later. Schenscher then scored six straight points, including a dunk off a feed from Lewis and a layup on a pick-and-roll from Jack.
He also added a stickback, then made two free throws after keeping a possession alive with an offensive rebound for a 67-60 lead with 3:19 left.
“(The guards) are doing their thing by getting by the defense on the perimeter, which draws my defender,” said Schenscher, who had nine rebounds and four blocked shots. “And I just have to finish off a good pass.”
Duke cut the deficit to three on a layup by Duhon, but Jack answered with a play that seemed to illustrate the Yellow Jackets’ dominance off the dribble. He took advantage of a defensive lapse, weaving into the lane behind Deng – who had his back turned – for a reverse layup and a 69-64 lead.
The Yellow Jackets went 7-for-8 from the free throw line over the last 90 seconds to seal it.
“We never could match that intensity for 40 minutes,” Krzyzewski said. “They just came in here and outplayed us.”
