NO. 2 DUKE 66, CONNECTICUT 56
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Freshman point guard Tyus Jones scored 21 points, Justise Winslow hit two key baskets late in the game and No. 2 Duke responded to a tongue lashing by Coach Mike Krzyzewski to beat defending national champion Connecticut 66-56 on Thursday night.
Winslow and Jahlil Okafor -- the other two members of the Blue Devils' trio of talented freshmen -- added 12 points apiece. Ahead 30-25 at the break, Duke (10-10) got off to a slow start in the second half and UConn (4-4) tied it.
Amile Jefferson added 11 points and 13 rebounds for Duke in a game that had the feel and intensity of an NCAA tournament contest.
Ryan Boatright had 22 points to lead the Huskies. Kentan Facey added 14 points and Daniel Hamilton had 10.
Duke has won all 10 of its games by at least 10 points, but this one was a lot closer being played in the Izod Center in the Meadowlands sports complex before a near sellout, pro-Huskies crowd.
The Blue Devils led by five at the half despite turning the ball over 12 times, but it was obvious Coach K was not happy. After Duke missed the opening shot of the second half and Connecticut got an easy basket, Krzyzewski called a timeout and screamed at his team in very colorful language.
That didn't turn the tide right away. UConn tied the game at 30 and had a chance to take the lead but Boatright missed the second of two free throws.
It was all Duke after that. The Blue Devils went on a 15-2 spurt with Winslow putting in a rebound and Jones hitting a layup for the first four points.
Connecticut made a couple of runs. It drew within 53-45 on one of Boatright's three second-half three-pointers, but Okafor hit two free throws.
Consecutive rebound follows by Facey got UConn within 57-51 with 3:48 to play, but Winslow hit a three-pointer off a Jones feed and Jones added two free throws to push the lead to 62-51.
Connecticut's last chance came when Boatright hit another three-pointer to close to gap to 62-56 with 2:00 to go, but Winslow followed the second of two missed free throws by Okafor with a rebound layup and Duke was never threatened.
Connecticut, which shot nearly 43 percent, only took 13 free throws, making seven.
NO. 6 VIRGINIA 70, CLEVELAND STATE 54
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- Justin Anderson scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half and No. 6 Virginia returned from an 11-day layoff for exams with a victory over Cleveland State.
Malcolm Brogdon also scored 16 and Anthony Gill had 13 for the Cavaliers (10-0), who matched their best start since the 2001-01 season. Next up for Virginia is a visit from scrappy Harvard on Sunday.
Trey Lewis scored 18 to lead the Vikings (5-6). Cleveland State scored just four points in the first 13 1/2 minutes against the Cavaliers' top-ranked scoring defense and No. 3-rated field goal percentage defense.
Virginia led 31-18 at halftime, and Anderson scored the Cavaliers' first eight points of the second half, twice converting on drives inside and then making a four-point play from the top of the key.
Sports on 12/19/2014