DUKE jumped to an early 10-2 lead. We slowly inched our way closer, by controlling boards. Down 8-10, 12:41. Both teams shooting below 30% FG. Up 13-12, 7:34. DUKE's offense slightly improved, while we continue to shoot bricks. Halftime, Down 20-24.
We'll adjust to favor inside in the 2nd half. The frustrating thing is not our 26% FG shooting, but the fact that DUKE scoring 6 of their 12 2nd half pts on easy baskets in transition. Down 25-34, 13:29. We keep on grinding, and took advantage of consecutive turn overs by DUKE which we converted to 4 pts on transition. Down 1. A miss by DUKE, and on our ensuing play, C Michael Jackson goes inside, scores, plus a foul! Jackson missed, but we now have the lead. Up 39-38, 8:14.
After a split FT by DUKE, teams exchanged just a basket each. Tied at 41, 5:46. DUKE scores. We had 2 opportunities to tie the game, but we turned it over on both possessions; we have 15 turn overs already. Another miss by DUKE. This time, we were able to score courtesy of a jumper by PG Chris Hunter. Tied at 43, 3:54.
Another miss by DUKE. We go to C Michael Jackson, and Jackson scores from the low post. Up 45-43, 3:12. DUKE attempts a 3 against a double team. It goes in! DUKE is only 3-17 3PT today prior to that shot; what a time for them to convert. Down 45-46, 2:59. We go back to C Michael Jackson, and Jackson delivers again. Up 47-46, 2:41. We get a steal. We're looking for Jackson again. Jackson gets the pass. Jackson can't get a shot so he kicks it out. But a quick pass back to Jackson surprised DUKE's defense, and Jackson able to make a move to the basket for an easy score! Up 49-46, 2:09.
DUKE also going to the post. One on one against C Michael Jackson. Jackson comes up with a block; hist 5th rejection of the game. We recover the ball. We can't get it to Jackson. SF Dennis Johnson called for traveling! That last turn over proved to be costly, as DUKE able to score this time in the low post. I called a timeout. Up 49-48, 1:28.
We adjust to heavy inside, to make sure we get the ball to C Michael Jackson. It took a while before we get the ball to Jackson, with 0:12 left in the shot clock. But DUKE playing good defense, forcing Jackson to pass. We eventually turn the ball over after a couple of passes. Very poor execution there. Timeout DUKE. Up 49-48, 0:59.
We're playing good defense. And then we got called for a foul. We're in the penalty. 1-and-1 for DUKE's PF Carvell Robinson, who is 0-2 FT today. 1st FT is good. 2nd is a miss. We get the rebound, and called a timeout. Tied at 49, 0:35.
We'll go back to a balanced offense, as our last 2 possessions resulted in disaster. PG Chris Hunter drives. Block by DUKE! But PF Adam McClean at the right place to get the ball. McLean's shot is good! Timeout DUKE. Up 51-49, 0:20.
We're doubling anyone who has the ball. Another foul called on us! I didn;t see teh contact; we're just playing good perimeter defense. But the refs just ignored me. 1-and-1 for DUKE's SG Garner Day. This is Day's 1st trip to the line today. Day hits the 1st. And also the 2nd. I called a timeout. Tied at 51, 0:10.
DUKE pressuring our ball carrier. The ball was passed to SG Jonathan Ballinger. 1 sec to shoot, Ballinger puts up a 3. Missed. We go to OT. End of Regulation, Tied at 51.
DUKE's gets 1st possession, and they immediately hit a 3pt shot. C Michael Jackson answers with an inside bucket. A miss by DUKE, but we also missed ur chance to regain the lead. We got 2 consecutive shot blocks on DUKE's next possession. On our next offensive play, Jackson missed his shot. Down 53-54, 3:15 OT.
DUKE finding it difficult to put up a shot, and they turn it over. We get another chance. SG Jonathan Ballinger, who missed a potential game winner at the end of regulation, taught about taking a shot. Ballinger passed instead to C Michael Jackson, but Jackson missed on his shot again. DUKE with the rebound. DUKE scores on their possession. I called a timeout. Those were 3 opportunities to get the lead, and we came up empty handed. Down 53-56, 2:12 OT.
C Michael Jackson missed again. Ball out of bounds, and last touch by DUKE. We get another play. DUKE playing good defense. Ball is in the hands of SF Dennis Johnson. 5 sec to shoot, Johnson puts up a shot. Missed. Loose ball scrambled, goes out of bounds. Our ball but less than 1 sec on the shot clock. We couldn't even get a shot attempt. Shot clock violation. Down 53-56, 1:37 OT.
DUKE with a drive to the basket, but they kicked out a pass. Stolen by SG Jonathan Ballinger. Ballinger with an outlet to PF Adam McLean, and McLean scores on the break. Down 55-56, 1:19 OT.
DUKE gets it to their center, who goes one on one inside against C Michael Jackson. Another rejection by Jackson! Ball goes out of bounds, and last touch DUKE. I called my last timeout. Down 55-56, 0:50 OT.
SG Jonathan Ballinger drives to the basket. Ballinger draws a double team, leaving PF Adam McLean open underneath the basket. Ballinger makes a great pass to McLean, and McLean scores! Timeout DUKE. Up 57-56, 0:42 OT.
DUKE breaks our press, and able to score an easy jam! We have no more timeouts left. Down 57-58, 0:33 OT.
C Michael Jackson makes a bad pass, and DUKE gets a steal. We have to foul. We did give u a foul. 1-and-1 for DUKE. They missed the front end, but they get the off rebound. We give up another foul. double bonus, and 2 FTs this time. They split. We finally secured the rebound. Down 57-59, 0:14 OT.
We hurry up. SG Jonathan Ballinger has the ball beyond the arc. Ballinger fakes a 3, moves closer, pulls up a jumper, and Ballinger scores! Tied at 59, 0:06 OT. DUKE not calling a timeout. We pressure them in the back court and time expired. We're going into 2nd OT! End of 1st OT, Tied at 59.
We turned the ball over on our 1st possession; 20 turn overs already. My white hair count has probably doubled in this game alone. DUKE missed their shot. On our next play, SF Dennis Johnson drives strong and scores. Up 61-59, 4:07 2OT. DUKE takes a 3 over a double team. Missed. We secure the rebound. We spread the floor, and able to isolate C Michael Jackson. Jackson has missed several shots during the 1st OT, but this time he connects! Up 63-59, 3:29 2OT.
DUKE answers back with a clutch jumper. What a game we're having here. Up 63-61, 3:06 2OT. SG Jonathan Ballinger, who hit the tying basket during the 1st OT, drives, shoots, but he missed. Rebound by DUKE. DUKE goes for a post play. The kickout pass was stolen by PF Chris Hunter. We run the break. With DUKE's front court clearly exhausted now, C Michael Jackson got ahead and scores on the break! Up 65-61, 2:26 2OT.
DUKE shoots another contested 3, and missed again. We secure the rebound. Knowing that DUKE's big men are tired, we get the ball back to C Michael Jackson, and Jackson scores on the post. A 6 pt lead seems like a luxury with the way this game is going, but this is not the time to relax. Up 67-61, 1:56 2OT. Another miss by DUKE. We get the ball back to C Michael Jackson. Jackson shoots. Missed. Off rebound by Jackson. Jackson missed again. 2nd off rebound by Jackson. Short on the shot by Jackson. 3rd off rebound by Jackson. This time, Jackson converts on his 4th attempt! What an effort by Jackson. Timeout DUKE. Up 69-61, 0:59 2OT.
Shot on the inside DUKE was missed again. I signaled that we can slow down the pace. DUKE successively giving up fouls to get themselves to penalty. We hit 2 FTs to ice the game, and heads home physically and mentally drained after this game.
We just had better conditioned players than DUKE, and it showed as the game dragged on.
Final Score: Clemson - 73, Duke - 66
Box Scores
[INDENT]Jackson 25, 14, 1, 6 blks (*)
McLean 14,14, 1, 2 stls
Ballinger 11, 4, 7, 3 stls, 5 tos
Hunter 9, 9, 7, 2 stls, 3 blks, 5 tos
Johnson 7, 2, 1
Hickman 5, 3, 1
Davis 2, 1, 0
DeWitt 0, 5, 0
Holmes 0, 3, 4
Swan 0, 0, 0
[/INDENT]
Stats Comparison
[INDENT]FG: 40-36%
REB: +21 (+6 off)
TO: +7 (21-14)
Pts in paint: +22
2nd chance: +9
Fast break: -1
[/INDENT]
ACC Conference Standings
- #4 Clemson, 15-2 (W2)
- #9 North Carolina St, 13-4 (L1)
- #5 Georgia Tech, 13-4 (W7)
- #11 Maryland, 12-5 (W2)
- #20 Duke, 8-9 (L3)
- Virginia, 8-9 (W1)
- Wake Forest, 7-10 (W1)
- Florida St, 6-11 (W1)
- Miami (FL), 6-11 (L1)
- North Carolina, 5-12 (L1)
- Virginia Tech, 5-12 (L3)
- Boston College, 4-13 (L2)