Duke’s Home Win Streak Is Ended

Georgia Tech’s athleticism and physical defense put an end to Duke’s 41-game home winning streak Wednesday night.

Luke Schenscher scored 14 points, including several key second-half baskets, to lead the 19th-ranked Yellow Jackets to a 76-68 victory over the third-ranked Blue Devils at Durham, N.C.

Jarrett Jack had 15 points for Georgia Tech (21-8, 8-7 Atlantic Coast Conference), which had lost 15 in a row to Duke. B.J. Elder and Isma’il Muhammad each added 12 points to help the Yellow Jackets defeat the Blue Devils for the first time since the 1995-96 season.

“Over the years, Duke’s been the elite team in the conference, especially winning the tournament five years in a row,” Jack said. “Coming out and beating them on their home floor is a big statement.”

Duke (24-4, 12-3) lost at home for the first time since falling to Maryland, 91-80, in February 2001. Pittsburgh’s 40-game home winning streak was ended Sunday by Syracuse. The current longest streak is 28 games by Wisconsin, Austin Peay and Stephen F. Austin.

Georgia Tech gave Duke trouble from the start, pushing the ball up the court and through the Blue Devils’ defense. The Yellow Jackets penetrated effectively for good shots, shooting 51% and scoring 38 points inside.

In addition, Georgia Tech played physical man-to-man defense, blocking 11 shots and holding the Blue Devils to 34% shooting. Duke finished with 20 turnovers.

It was the highest-ranked opponent Georgia Tech had beaten on the road since winning at No. 1 North Carolina in February 1994.

“They just wanted it more than us tonight, and it hurts to say that,” Duke’s Chris Duhon said.

No. 9 Kentucky 84, South Carolina 65 -- Cliff Hawkins scored a career-high 21 points and tied his personal best with 11 assists at Columbia, S.C., as the Wildcats (22-4, 12-3 Southeastern) cruised past the Gamecocks (21-8, 8-7).

Maryland 70, No. 16 North Carolina State 69 -- John Gilchrist scored 21 points and the Terrapins (15-11, 6-9 ACC) kept their hopes alive for an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament by defeating the Wolfpack (18-8, 10-5) at Raleigh, N.C.

No. 18 Illinois 81, Purdue 79 -- Luther Head converted an offensive rebound with nine-tenths of a second left in overtime at West Lafayette, Ind., to give the Fighting Illini (21-5, 12-3 Big Ten) their ninth consecutive victory. The Boilermakers fell to 17-11, 7-8.

No. 20 Memphis 83, Texas Christian 56 -- Sean Banks scored 25 points as the Tigers (21-5, 12-3 Conference USA) moved into first place in the conference by defeating the Horned Frogs (11-15, 7-8) at Memphis, Tenn.

No. 21 Kansas 78, Nebraska 67 -- Wayne Simien scored 22 points and Aaron Miles fueled a 16-0 run as the Jayhawks (19-7, 11-4 Big 12) rolled past the Cornhuskers (16-10, 6-9) at Lawrence, Kan.

No. 25 Louisville 75, Saint Louis 48 -- Francisco Garcia had 17 points, six assists and five rebounds at St. Louis (15-11, 8-7 Conference USA), leading a dominant overall performance by the Cardinals (19-7, 9-6).

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OTHER GAMES

Andre Emmett scored 28 points at Lubbock, Texas, to lead Texas Tech (20-9, 8-7 Big 12) to an 87-76 victory over Missouri (15-11, 9-6). It is the Red Raiders’ third 20-win season in a row, all under Coach Bob Knight, who has eight consecutive seasons of 20 or more victories.

De’Angelo Alexander scored 17 points at Norman, Okla., as Oklahoma (17-9, 7-8 Big 12) broke a four-game losing streak with an 86-60 victory over Texas A&M; (7-19, 0-15).... Curtis Stinson scored 19 points and led a rally that brought Iowa State (16-10, 7-8 Big 12) from 13 down in the second half to an 83-77 victory over Colorado (17-9, 9-6) at Ames, Iowa.

Indiana (13-13, 7-8 Big Ten) ended a four-game losing streak with a 61-56 victory over Michigan (16-10, 7-8) at Bloomington, Ind. The victory also ended a four-game home losing streak, the Hoosiers’ longest at Assembly Hall since 1984-85.... Vedran Vukusic’s basket with seven-tenths of a second left gave Northwestern (13-13, 8-7 Big Ten) a 51-49 victory over Iowa (15-11, 8-7) at Evanston, Ill.

Matt Walsh made seven free throws down the stretch to lift Florida (18-8, 9-6 SEC) to a 63-55 victory over Georgia (14-12, 6-9) at Gainesville, Fla.... Matt Freije scored 28 points and Vanderbilt (19-7, 8-7 SEC) rallied to defeat Tennessee, 61-58, at Nashville. The Volunteers (14-12, 6-9) are 0-8 in SEC road games.

Chuck Davis scored 18 points as Alabama (16-10, 8-7 SEC) held on for a 72-68 victory in overtime against Arkansas (12-14, 4-11) at Fayetteville, Ark.... Brandon Bass and Darrel Mitchell each scored 14 points as Louisiana State (18-8, 8-7 SEC) rallied to defeat Mississippi, 58-45, at Baton Rouge, La. The Rebels (12-14, 4-11) held the Tigers to only 10 first-half points.

David Hawkins 41 points at Philadelphia as Temple (15-11, 9-6 Atlantic 10) held on for a 98-92 victory in overtime against Massachusetts (10-17, 4-11).... Travis Diener scored 30 points and Marquette (16-10, 7-8 Conference USA) battled to a 77-73 victory over East Carolina (12-13, 4-11) at Milwaukee.... Craig Smith scored 17 points to lead Boston College (20-8, 9-6 Big East) to a 68-54 victory over St. John’s (6-20, 1-14) at Boston.

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WOMEN

No. 8 Kansas State 85, No. 9 Texas Tech 73 -- Nicole Ohlde had 21 points as the Wildcats (23-4, 14-2 Big 12) claimed a share of the conference title by defeating the Red Raiders (24-6, 10-6) at Manhattan, Kan.

No. 14 Baylor 70, Oklahoma State 60 -- Steffanie Blackmon had 21 points at Stillwater, Okla., as the Bears (22-7, 10-6 Big 12) held off the Cowboys (8-19, 3-13).

No. 13 Colorado 63, Nebraska 60 -- Kate Fagan scored 19 points as the Buffaloes (22-6, 11-5 Big 12) held off the Cornhuskers (17-10, 7-9) at Lincoln, Neb.