Duke Defeated by Georgia Tech in OT

Durham, NC—Duke lost a thrilling 81-77 contest against Georgia Tech at the McCamish Pavilion in Atlanta, Georgia on Tuesday, March 2. Duke recorded their second straight overtime loss in the contest. In a disappointing outing that resulted in what Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski described as a “very tough loss” the Blue Devils fell short again. Sophomore forward Matthew Hurt fouled out for the second game in a row. Duke must now look for a win in their season finale against Carolina to bolster their dwindling NCAA Tournament aspirations.

Both teams came out with intensity on both ends of the floor. Duke and Georgia Tech shot 44% and 45% from the floor, respectively. Each team was held to exactly 27% from beyond the three-point line during the contest. 

Freshman center Mark Williams dazzled during the loss, going a perfect 9-of-9 shooting for 20 points in addition to seven rebounds and one assist on the night despite fouling out late. 

Duke center Mark Williams battled inside all night with Georgia Tech’s standout center Moses Wright. Moses Wright fueled the Yellowjackets’ offense and crashed the glass relentlessly during what can only be described as an interior onslaught. Wright managed to record 29 points, 14 rebounds, and five assists on the night. His 11 first-half points led the way for Georgia Tech as they entered halftime with a slim 34-31 lead after a made three-point attempt from Wright.

Sophomores Wendell Moore Jr. and Matthew Hurt contributed heavily for Duke all evening. Wendell Moore Jr. recorded 16 points in 15 minutes during the first half on 7-of-9 shooting. Moore Jr. would finish the contest with 20 points, eight rebounds, and three assists. Matthew Hurt added in 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting during the first period. Hurt would finish with only 12 points, four rebounds, and two assists amid a night marred by foul trouble.

Duke freshmen D.J. Steward and Jeremy Roach were held scoreless throughout the entirety of the first half. This was a major detriment to the team as Steward is a key offensive contributor for Duke. He has never been their offensive focal point, but his consistent 13.1 points per game cannot be easily replaced in a pinch with Duke’s roster as it is currently constructed. 

The second half looked much like the first early on. Both teams locked in defensively and made every basket an endeavor for the opposition. As time wore on in the second half, Georgia Tech began to take the initiative and pull away slightly. With 11:38 remaining in the second half, Georgia Tech tied the game at 50-50 with a pair of free throws. This sparked a 14-6 scoring run that saw the Yellowjackets take a 64-56 lead with only 4:47 remaining in regulation. 

Duke answered back with an 8-0 scoring run of their own over the next three minutes to knot the score in a tie at 64-64 with 1:43 remaining after three made free throws from Junior forward Joey Baker. 

Neither team managed to score down the stretch in regulation despite several good looks from both teams. The pressure was on as overtime began, and Georgia Tech answered the call. 

Mark Williams scored a dunk to begin the period and take a 66-64 lead. Undeterred, Georgia Tech scored three straight baskets for six points to take a 70-66 lead. This was the last time Duke held the lead in the contest. The Blue Devils continued to try and close the gap, but both teams made sure that scoring was at a premium. The absence of Hurt down the stretch cannot be understated. Without Hurt, Duke looked disjointed offensively in both regulation and overtime despite coming back from an eight point deficit. 

Duke returns to action for their regular-season finale against the University of North Carolina on Saturday, March 6 at the Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill, NC.