No.5 Duke 56 Virginia 41, FINAL
With one minute left Singler and Smith go to the bench. One has continued his high scoring run, Singler on the other hand finishes the game with only two points.
Regardless, this has been a strong win by Duke. Check the Chronicle tomorrow for more coverage and analysis.
No.5 Duke 54 Virginia 37, 3:09 2nd Half
A nice lob from Smith leads to an alley-oop for Mason Plumlee. He now has 9. This is a different Duke offense to what may have been expected with Mason Plumlee and Kelly combining for 20, and Singler with only 2 points.
Fans are starting to leave early, as this game is all but over, barring a huge comeback by the Cavaliers.
No.5 Duke 50 Virginia 35, 6:28 2nd Half
The Cavaliers have their first three of the half, a good shot at that, one with the defender up in his face.
Smith goes to the line after drawing a foul on the drive and hits one. He has taken most of Duke's shots the last few possessions. Kelly, who has the second most points on the Blue Devils, has not scored in the second half until a tip-in off a Singler miss.
Singler, still at 2 points, far below his average, is now back in playing with 4 fouls.
No.5 Duke 45 Virginia 32, 10:28 2nd Half
The last few possessions have seen many shots that have rattled the rim and out, but that has picked up significantly with good execution by both teams. Virginia have been looking for the three but have not been able to connect in transition. They have not been able to attempt a three pointer in the half court, which says much about the intensity of Duke's half court defense throughout the game.
The crowd here have quieted down significantly and are at their loudest when disagreeing with a call, or non-call, on the floor.
No.5 Duke 41 Virginia 30, 14:30 2nd Half
It has been a while coming but Singler finally hits from the field. A nice mid-range jumper from the corner. He however, picks up his fourth on the offensive end and then goes back to the bench. It has not been an easy night for Singler.
Virginia has started the half the same way they did the first, with no three point attempts thus far. It will be hard for them to hang on to Duke without these shots from downtown.
A nice feed from Curry gives Mason Plumlee a big dunk under the basket. Curry fakes a defender, goes in the air, before a wraparound pass to a wide open Plumlee under the basket.
No.5 Duke 34 Virginia 26, 17:04 2nd Half
Singler quickly picks up his 3rd and goes back to the bench.
Mason Plumlee splits a pair from the line despite the student section's efforts to distract him.
Both teams have not taken good care of the basketball with turnovers from both teams. Duke has 10 turnovers to Virginia's 8. The difference has been that the Blue Devils have been able to convert the turnovers into points. With the last play being a dunk by Nolan Smith on the break.
Singler, still scoreless, prepares to check back in.
No.5 Duke 34 Virginia 26, Halftime
The Blue Devils close the half strong with an "and-one" play by Nolan Smith after terrific pressure defense on the other end.
Duke has shot well this half, shooting 50% from the field. The Blue Devils have also shown that they do not need to rely on Singler who has spent much of the half on the bench in foul trouble. Look for Singler to get on the scoreboard and make an impact in the second half.
Fans in the arena are now being treated to the "Red Panda Acrobat" at halftime. It is a lady on a 10 foot tall unicycle, catching bowls thrown to her by the Cavalier Mascot. It gets better though, she stacks multiple bowls on her foot and kicks it onto a stack on her head all while on the unicycle... the tall unicycle. The count so far is five bowls from her foot, to her head, on the unicycle.
No.5 Duke 29 Virginia 22, 3:27 1st half
Duke finally gets to the free throw line as Miles Plumlee is hacked going up for a shot under the hoop. Singler has spent much of the half on the bench with two fouls.
Duke's offense has come from the reliable source of Nolan Smith, who has put up 10 points so far, with the last two on a heavily contested driving shot in the lane where it appeared he was fouled. The shot bounced around the rim before falling. Ryan Kelly has also stepped up this game, putting up 9 so far, and not just from the outside. His last bucket was a sweet move in the post that freed him up from his defender.
Miles Plumlee misses both from the line, the Blue Devils still have had no points from the line this half.
No.5 Duke 21 Virginia 15, 6:20 1st half
Nolan checks back in and hits two straight threes, giving Duke the lead. Singler checsk back in but does not have the immediate impact that Smith had coming back into the game. Something to note, Duke has not gone to the foul line at all this first half. The Cavaliers have only made one trip to the line. Perhaps it is the officials.
Ryan Kelly has scored the last 5 points for Duke. Hitting an open shot under the basket after a Virginia Turnover and then a three of a pass not intended to him. Just got to be at the right place at the right time I guess. He then is involved in the next basket as he blocks the shot which put Duke in transition leading to a Mason Plumlee layup.
No.5 Duke 10 Virginia 13, 11:23 1st half
Josh Hairston gets some early minutes as he checks in for Kyle Singler. In a rare moment the Blue Devils are playing without both their senior captains early in the game. Perhaps the two are sitting to regain focus, as both remain scoreless and have not had much of an impact in the game.
Smith checks back in as Virginia's KT Harrell goes to the line and sinks one of two.
No.5 Duke 7 Virginia 12, 13:24 1st half
As soon as that was said, Virginia hit two straight threes to take the lead in the game. Tyler Thornton checks in for Nolan Smith, who is still scoreless. Duke is still plagued with turnovers and now the lead balloons to 5.
No.5 Duke 7 Virginia 4, 15:25 1st half
Curry continues his rich vein of form and drains a three on his first shot of the game. Duke's pressure defense has been strong, closing down Virginia's four guards out on the perimeter. The Cavaliers have had no three point attempts so far.
Miles checks in for his brother while Andre Dawkins enters the game for Ryan Kelly.
No.5 Duke 4 Virginia 2, 16:19 1st half
Duke starts strong winning the tip and getting two quick buckets inside with Mason Plumlee and Ryan Kelly under the basket. However, the next three trips down the floor are turnovers. The Blue Devils must limit the turnovers to build this lead. Duke has been fortunate thus far as the Cavaliers have not been able to convert and have had turnovers of their own.
Pregame
Welcome to the live blog of today's matchup of the No. 5 Duke Blue Devils and the Virginia Cavaliers.
The light show is currently on here at John Paul Jones Arena and the line ups are being announced. Its hard to imagine what Cameron would be like with the effects they have at these more modern arenas.
The line ups are as expected, and Seth Curry is rewarded for his strong play of late as he starts the game.
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