Jimmy Robertson, a reporter for the Associated Press, received this notification.

Blacksburg, Va.

Jeremy Roach came off the bench and scored 16 points, helping No. 7 Duke secure a 77-67 win against Virginia Tech on Monday night.

Recently dealing with knee and ankle injuries, Roach had a 5 for 11 shooting performance and sunk four 3-pointers for the Blue Devils (16-4, 7-2 Atlantic Coast Conference). They have now secured three consecutive victories and 11 out of their last 12 games.

Coach Jon Scheyer expressed his satisfaction with the team’s strong sense of unity. He also acknowledged the key contributions of some players who made timely 3-pointers and stepped up in crucial moments. Scheyer also expressed pride in the team’s win, especially since they played two games in a span of three days and were able to emerge victorious in both. He looks forward to continuing this positive momentum.

MJ Collins led the Hokies (13-8, 5-5) with 17 points, but their three-game winning streak was ended by Virginia Tech.

In the first half, Duke took control with a 12-0 run and maintained their lead throughout the game. Although the Hokies narrowed the gap to three points on three separate occasions in the second half, they were unable to surpass Duke’s advantage. Hunter Cattoor’s 3-pointer with 14:07 left was the final time the Hokies came close to catching up.

The Duke basketball team steadily increased their lead by shooting 59.3% in the last half of the game (16 out of 27 shots made). Kyle Filipowski contributed 14 points to the team’s score, while Tyrese Proctor finished with 12.

Cattoor led the Hokies with a total of 15 points. Both Sean Pedulla and Lynn Kidd contributed 12 points each.

“Our team missed some chances, despite having taken our shots,” commented Mike Young, the coach of Virginia Tech. “However, I must give credit to their team, players, and Jon for their performance tonight. They had a solid strategy and executed it well. There’s nothing else to say.”

BIG PICTURE

Duke’s performance against Virginia Tech showcased their skills as a top-10 team, with a 55.4% shooting percentage and a dominant 38-20 rebounding advantage. This handed Virginia Tech only their second loss at home this season, despite Duke’s previous struggles at Cassell Coliseum with five losses in their last six visits.

Scheyer expressed a great deal of admiration for Virginia Tech and the atmosphere at their stadium. He believes that Duke players come to this school specifically for the opportunity to play in intense environments like this. He also commended Virginia Tech for their ability to focus on what they could control, rather than getting caught up in the noise from the crowd or outside opinions. Duke’s players were fully focused on the game and the task at hand.

Virginia Tech missed a chance to improve their chances for the NCAA Tournament. Despite their NET ranking being around 40 and only one game left against a ranked opponent (a trip to No. 3 North Carolina), they are running out of time and opportunities and may need assistance from other teams to secure an at-large bid.

Young stated that our team had a challenging evening and expressed hope for better days ahead.

BOUNCING BACK

In Saturday’s game against Clemson, Roach, the team’s experienced leader, only managed to score five points, shooting 1-of-8 from the field. Despite not having practiced and being a substitute for the second consecutive game, he made a noteworthy contribution by sinking four 3-pointers, his highest of the season, in the Blue Devils’ 72-71 victory over the Hokies.

“I believe he wasn’t completely himself tonight,” stated Scheyer. “He requires at least a week of practice to regain his usual momentum. Despite that, his 3-point shots were impressive and he had some crucial moments. He’s been a huge asset for our team this season. It’s admirable that he was able to play tonight despite needing more practice time.”

UP NEXT

Duke will be playing against No. 3 North Carolina on Saturday.

Virginia Tech will be playing against Miami on Saturday.

Source: wralsportsfan.com