Duke and Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski have found its winning stride just in the nick of time. After losing four of five at the end of January, the Blue Devils have won three straight this month, besting No. 13 Louisville 72-65, at Cameron Indoor Stadium Monday.
Freshman Brandon Ingram recorded a double-double, scoring 18 points and snagging 10 rebounds for Duke (18-6, 7-4 Atlantic Coast Conference). Grayson Allen (19), Marshall Plumlee (10) scored double digit figures, with Luke Kennard adding 11 off the bench for the Blue Devils, who won their first game against a ranked opponent this season.
Trailing by 11 at the half, and by 15 in the second half, the Cardinals (19-5, 8-3 ACC), battled back on the road to even the score at 58 with just under four minutes to go in the contest. Donovan Mitchell led Louisville with 17 points off the bench, with Quinten Snider (12) and Trey Lewis (11) joining the double-digit club. Often electric guard Damion Lee was stifled by Duke’s defense, shooting 3-of-15 from the floor and 0-for-5 from 3-point range. Lee was held to just 10 points in the Cardinals first game since self-imposing a postseason ban for 2016 after allegations claimed that the school was aware and allowing the use of strippers and prostitutes at Cardinal recruiting visits.
Both teams return to the hardwood Saturday, Duke will host No. 7 Virginia, while Louisville visits Notre Dame.
Hield does it again for Oklahoma
Tied at 60 in the waning seconds of the second half, Buddy Hield did it again. The dominant guard in contention for Naismith Player of the Year drained a 3-point field goal with 1.3 seconds remaining to get No. 3 Oklahoma (20-3, 8-3 Big 12) past Red River Rival No. 24 Texas (16-8, 7-4 Big 12), 63-60, at the Lloyd Noble Center.
The Sooners just about doubled their first half total, scoring 41 points in the second half after trailing 31-22 at the intermission. Hield scored a game-high 27 points, adding five rebounds, two assists and two steals on 10-of-11 shooting from the charity stripe. Isaiah Cousins aided the Oklahoma offensive attack with 17 points.
Shaka Smart’s resurgent Longhorns held a nine-point lead at the half and almost pulled off the road upset. Isaiah Taylor led Texas with 19 points, with Kendal Yancy adding 13 points, six rebounds and three steals. The Longhorns, who led for much of the contest, saw their four game winning streak snapped after having previously won seven of eight. Oklahoma outscored Texas 14-6 from the free throw line.
The Longhorns travel to No. 14 Iowa State Saturday, with Oklahoma hosting No. 7 Kansas in a key Big 12 contest Saturday night.
Villanova extracts revenge on Providence
After falling to No. 11 Providence (18-6, 6-5 Big East) in an overtime thriller at home last month, No. 1 Villanova (20-3 10-1 Big East got even with the Friars in a 72-60 Big East victory at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center Saturday.
Losing their first and only Big East game to Providence, the Wildcats took advantage of a thin and banged up Friar line-up to rise to No. 1 in the new AP polls. Darryl Reynolds picked a perfect time to score a career-high 19 points, along with corralling 10 rebounds for Villanova. Ryan Arcidiacono scored 16 points, with Josh Hart (14) and Kris Jenkins (10 points, 13 rebounds) also adding double-digit points.
Providence found out once again that they need more than just an electric Kris Dunn and Ben Bentil to get the job done at home against Big East opponents. Bentil scored a team-high 20 points, with 18 coming in the second half off the bench for the Friars, who drop to No. 20 in the AP poll. Dunn was the lone starter in double-figures – scoring 11, but committed a game-high six turnovers.
Providence heads to Marquette Wednesday, while the Wildcats travel to DePaul Tuesday.
Kyle DaLuz can be reached at [email protected], and can be followed on Twitter @Kyle_DaLuz.
