NCAA
Duke 66, Virginia Tech 48
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
DURHAM, N.C. — Forward Rodney Hood scored 21 points and sixth-ranked Duke finally put away last-place Virginia Tech with a 66-48 victory on Tuesday night at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Duke guard Rasheed Sulaimon scored 15 points as the Blue Devils capped a grueling stretch of the schedule with another victory.
Forward Jabari Parker had 11 points and 12 rebounds, but it was the first time in seven games that the freshman didn’t lead or co-lead the Blue Devils (23-6, 12-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) in scoring.
Freshman forward Trevor Thompson had 15 points — matching his season high — for Virginia Tech (9-18, 2-13). It was only the second time Thompson reached double figures against an ACC opponent.
Duke held a 15-2 lead less than 4 1/2 minutes into the game. It was 24-4 slightly more than midway through the first half before Virginia Tech perked up.
The Hokies scored seven of the first nine points of the second half to close within 34-27 and cause a Duke timeout at the 17:56 mark.
Suliamon hit two 3-pointers during the next three minutes as Duke built its lead to 42-29.
Duke has won six of its last seven games, including Saturday night’s toppling of then-No. 1 Syracuse.
Duke’s homecourt winning streak increased to 32 games, marking the longest active streak in Division I.
Virginia Tech dropped to 0-5 against ranked teams this season. The Hokies have only won once in 2014.
Duke claimed a 32-20 halftime lead in the only meeting of the season between the teams.
It was not all bleak for Virginia Tech, which closed the half on a 16-8 run. Until then, it appeared the Hokies would be in danger of failing to reach their previous first-half low this season of 17 points.
Hood had 12 of Duke’s first-half points. The Blue Devils were aided by 10 first-half offensive rebounds and nine Virginia Tech turnovers.
The Hokies scored on three consecutive possessions to close within 24-12. That came during a stretch when Duke managed only two points in seven minutes.
NOTES: This was the Hokies’ only visit of the regular season to the state of North Carolina, though they will be back for next month’s ACC Tournament in Greensboro. … Duke F Josh Hairston played for the first time in three games as he did not make it into the mix against North Carolina or Syracuse. … Virginia Tech F Cadarian Raines was back in a limited role after sitting out Saturday against North Carolina State with an injured left ankle. … After playing its fifth game in 11 nights, Duke is off for eight days until a March 5 game at Wake Forest. … Virginia Tech returns home for Saturday’s game against No. 19 North Carolina.
