Virginia Knocks Off No. 7 Duke, 52-50

Postgame Notes – Duke | Postgame Quotes – Duke | Boxscore

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Jay Huff (Durham, N.C.) had a double-double with 15 points and 10 blocks to lead No. 7 Virginia (21-7, 13-5 ACC) to a 52-50 win over No. 7 Duke (23-6, 13-5) on Saturday evening at John Paul Jones Arena.
 
Three players finished in double-figures for the Cavaliers. Mamadi Diakite (Conakry, Guinea) and Braxton Key (Charlotte, N.C.) each added 14 points. Huff was one rebound shy of a triple-double, with nine boards.
 
Virginia out-shot Duke, .420-.305, on the night. UVA also won the battle on the boards (38-33) and in the paint (30-24).
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Virginia took the early lead 9-3 but Duke came back with a 15-4 run to lead 18-13 at the 8:37 mark in the first half. Virginia responded with an 8-0 run, with six of those coming from Huff. Duke scored the final four points of the first half to tie it 25-25 at the break.
 
Duke went on an 11-3 run to open the second half and take a 35-28 lead. Virginia slowly closed the gap and a layup from Key tied the game 39-39. The teams traded the lead six times down the stretch. Diakite and Kihei Clark (Woodland Hills, Calif.) each hit two free throws to give UVA a 47-45 lead with just over three minutes to play. Duke hit a three to go back in front and was up 50-49 with 1:01 remaining. Diakite made a layup to give UVA a 51-50 lead and Huff converted a free throw and then got the final rebound to secure the win.
 
THE GAME BALL GOES TO
Jay Huff finished one rebound shy of a triple-double with 15 points, 10 blocks and nine rebounds. Huff’s 10 blocks are one shy of the record in an ACC game (11, Tyrelle Blair, Boston College vs. Maryland, Dec. 9, 2007). The all-time ACC record is 13, set twice previously in non-conference games.
 
UP NEXT
Virginia travels to Miami (FL) on Wednesday, March 4. The game is set to tip at 9 p.m. on ACC Network.