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Hokies struggle in loss to #6 Blue Devils

Tyrece Radford scored 16 points to lead Virginia Tech (15-12, 6-10), which shot 37% from the field in their 88-64 loss.
Credit: AP
Virginia Tech guard Wabissa Bede (3) and guard Tyrece Radford (23) reach for a rebound with Duke center Vernon Carey Jr. during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Durham, N.C., Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

DURHAM, N.C. — Duke's energy was back. Not surprisingly, so was its dominance. Cassius Stanley scored 21 points and made a season-high five 3-pointers to help No. 6 Duke beat Virginia Tech 88-64 on Saturday night. Matthew Hurt added 16 points and a season-high 10 rebounds for the Blue Devils (23-4, 13-3 Atlantic Coast Conference), who bounced back from an 88-66 loss at North Carolina State on Wednesday night. "I think we grew as a group this week," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "Sometimes you need to get punched and knocked out, but then you get up and figure out why you get knocked out. That's what we did."

Krzyzewski showed his players video evidence of their lackluster effort and energy against the Wolfpack, and they responded with a strong practice Thursday. The intensity carried over into the game, which the Blue Devils seized control of from the opening tip.

Duke began with an 11-2 spurt that featured three 3-pointers in the first three minutes. The Blue Devils scored on 10 of their first 12 possessions and later delivered a 19-4 run on their way to a 51-25 lead at halftime. "They blitzed us early and often," Virginia Tech coach Mike Young said. "They were better, obviously. They were that good." Vernon Carey Jr. scored 16 points and Tre Jones had 14 points for Duke, which improved to 21-1 all time at home against the Hokies.

Tyrece Radford scored 16 points to lead Virginia Tech (15-12, 6-10), which shot 37% from the field. Isaiah Wilkins added 11 points, and Hunter Cattoor had all 10 of his points in the second half for the Hokies. Landers Nolley II, who entered the game averaging a team-best 17.3 points and 6.3 rebounds, had three points and one rebound for Virginia Tech.

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