Duke Basketball Tickets- Blue Devils Win ACC Tournament
Jon Scheyer scored 29 points, Gerald Henderson had 27, and the Blue Devils (28-6) whipped the Florida State Seminoles 79-69 in the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship on Sunday. Duke put this game away early. They had more steals (five) than turnovers (four), outrebounded the muscular, taller Seminoles 35-34 and went ballistic with 12-of-25 showering from behind the arc. After Florida's Toney Douglas hit a 3-pointer to give the Seminoles its last lead of the game 11-9, Duke ripped off 14 points in a row, leaving the Seminoles wondering if they should be retired in the sunshine state. 12 of the 14 points came from 3-point land. Purchase Duke basketball tickets and see the Blue Devils in the NCAA Tournament.
Henderson didn't waste any time in this contest, he quickly buried a three while Kyle Singler hit three straight treys to complete his run from 3-point range. He came off a screen for a wide-open look from the top corner of the key before letting his shot go. It sank right in and gave the Blue Devils a 23-11 lead. Duke was up 35-21 at halftime, taking advantage of an awful Florida State, shooting (5 of 23) and desperately needed an offensive spark if they wanted to contend with the Blue Devils.
Although Chris Singleton did chip in with 15 points and Ryan Reid contributed in the second half closing the gap to 42-36 against the Blue Devils, Douglas had been a one-man show for the Seminoles. Coughing the ball up 13 times did not provide Florida State with that offensive spark they were hoping for and nobody on the team had the answer of how to stop the Blue Devils 3-point extravaganza fest. Duke, who shot more 3-pointers than any team in the ACC, tuned back to their favorite arsenal to wrap up the game. Scheyer hit a 3, and then fell to the court because of a push caused by Derwin Kitchen. He sank all three free throws, extending the lead back to 48-38.
The Blue Devils sealed the game soon after. Single came up with a steal and Nolan Smith made a floater in the lane. Duke continued to slaughter the Seminoles when Henderson buried another three after his teammate snatched an offensive rebound. Smith made a brilliant pass to Henderson for a dunk, Scheyer heaved up a no-look shot after turning his back away from the net on a drive, and then Scheyer and Singler made back-to-back baskets to give the team the biggest lead, 65-43. Duke's Coach Mike Krzyzewski has captured his 11th conference championship and now looks forward to the NCAA Tournament, where he hopes to be victorious in bringing home a fourth national title. Krzyzewski's team did not forget how to celebrate during North Carolina's back-to-back years as ACC kings.
As soon as the horn sounded Mike blew a kiss to the crowd and they responded to the coach by chanting "Let's go Duke!" The season is far from being complete. This team will not be satisfied with anything less than a National Championship. But for now, they are content with being champions of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
