BLACKSBURG – MJ Collins put up 17 points on 3 of 6 shooting from 3-point range, and Hunter Cattoor hit his 300th career trey, but No. 7 Duke used hot-shooting to prevail in a Big Monday clash with Virginia Tech, 77-67.
Duke's blistering 52.9% (9-17) from 3-point range helped the visitors secure their first win in Blacksburg since Dec. 6, 2019.
In addition to Collins, the Hokies (13-8, 5-5) produced three other double-digit scorers in Cattoor (15), Sean Pedulla (12) and Lynn Kidd (12). Robbie Beran added seven.
The Hokies were only able to hold a lead for 6:05. Their largest lead was five, five minutes into the first half. The seventh-ranked Blue Devils (16-4, 7-2) snatched the lead and never looked back. Duke's 26-4 advantage in bench points and 38-20 rebounding margin were key in the victory.
Duke was paced by Jeremy Roach, who scored 16 points off the bench, including a buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the end of the first half. He made an efficient 4 of 5 from 3-point range for the Blue Devils. Kyle Filipowski added 14 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Pedulla opened the scoring with two free throws one minute in. Kidd followed with an emphatic, two-hand jam to start the Hokies up 4-0. Collins converted a deep ball to put Tech up 11-6 at the 15-minute mark.
- Pedulla broke a five minute Tech drought with two free throws to put them within six. Kidd followed with a layup to make the score 24-17 as eight minutes remained in the half.
- Back-to-back jump-shots from Collins put the Hokies within five. Another Collins 3-pointer gave him a game-high 10 points and shrunk the Blue Devils' lead to eight. Cattoor's dunk made the score 32-26 in Duke's favor. A little over one minute remained.
- The Hokies finished the half on an 8-3 run with a halftime score of 35-29, Duke. Collins led all scorers with 13 points at halftime. The Hokies were beaten 18-9 on the boards and 8-0 on second-chance points in the first half.
- Pedulla's short jump-shot and layup started the Hokies' scoring a minute into the second half. Collins chipped in two minutes later with a layup, putting Tech down three.
- Cattoor's first 3-pointer of the game made the score 45-42 with 14 minutes left in the game. Mylyjael Poteat added a dunk one possession later. Cattoor's and-1 layup gave him double digits and put the Hokies within seven.
- With five minutes to go, Cattoor knocked down a 3-pointer, the 300th of his career, to shrivel Duke's lead from 11 to eight. Kidd's dunk made the Hokies down 12 at 75-63. A little over one minute remained.
- Poor shooting from 3-point range and rebounding stunted the Hokies from clawing back. Duke defeated Virginia Tech, 77-67.
NOTES
- Virginia Tech is now 2-1 when facing Duke on Big Monday. Duke avenged their loss from last season in Blacksburg (78-75).
- Duke and Tech have split the last six meetings, 3-3.
- Cattoor is the first Hokie to ever make 300 career 3-pointers and becomes the 13th ACC player to reach the milestone.
- Collins paced the Hokies tonight, pouring in 13 of his 17 points in the first half.
- Duke's Ryan Young and Tech's Robbie Beran were teammates at Northwestern University.
- The Hokies are now 10-2 at home this season. Tech went 2-1 in their three-game homestand.
QUOTES FROM MIKE YOUNG
- "[Duke] played better than we did. We didn't rebound very well and hit our shots. We also squandered some opportunities, but I tip my cap on this particular evening to their team and their players. Jon [Scheyer] had a good plan and did a nice job."
- "When you're playing a team like them, I'd like to think there's something you can eliminate, but that's easier said than done. We have to guard the ball. Simply put, Duke was better offensively than we were defensively."
UP NEXT
- Tech travels to Coral Gables for its first of a two-game road trip Saturday at noon against Miami. The Hokies will be looking to secure another Quadrant 1 victory against the Hurricanes.
Gallery: (1-29-2024) MBB: Duke Game