Comments:

The game was greatly hyped as it was the first meeting between Syracuse and Duke in the ACC. The game was officially sold out months in advance, and a NCAA record crowd 35,446 showed up for the game. The game lived up to its billing and was a outstanding effort between the #2 Orange and the #17 Blue Devils.

The game remained close throughout most of the game, with trends that remained throughout the game. Both teams did an excellent job of protecting the ball with very few turnovers. Syracuse played their trademark zone defense, while Duke used man-to-man defense and some full court press. Duke could not match up with Syracuse on the interior, despite having super freshman Jabari Parker, and so the Blue Devils worked to get three point shots. They would take 36 for the game, making 15 of them (41%). Duke was also strong on the offensive boards, which gave them several second opportunities.

Syracuse did an excellent job of shutting down the inside game for Duke, with Rakeem Christmas leading the way with 6 blocked shots. Syracuse had the inside skill advantage with the combo of C.J. Fair and Jerami Grant, and the Orange did a lot of shooting near the hoop.

The Blue Devils would get into foul trouble with their big men, with Parker and Amile Jefferson having to spend time on the bench with four fouls. Syracuse started to pull away around the 10 minute mark in the second half as the small lineup of the Blue Devils could not stop Fair and Grant from scoring. Parker and Jefferson would both re-enter the game out of necessity, and both would fould out before the game ended. However, Duke was able to close the gap by making several three point shots down the stretch. Tyler Thornton would make three in a row to make it a two point game.

The game was tied 75-75 when Rakeem Christimas was fould by Jefferson with 30 seconds go to. Christmas would make one of his two free throw attempts giving the Orange a 1 point lead. Duke had a chance to win the game when Christmas stole by ball from Andre Dawkins with 6 seconds to go. Christmas would quickly pass the ball to Tyler Ennis who Duke immediately fouled.

Ennis would make both of his free throws giving the Orange a 78-75 lead with four seconds to go. The Orange put pressure on Duke and the Blue Devils rushed the ball up the court. Rasheed Sulaimon would take and make an off balance three point shot as time expired, tying the game up and sending it into overtime.

The overtime period was a see-saw effort. Duke was focusing on making three point shots, while the Orange were dominating the interior of the paint. Grant would have three straight dunks for the Orange, while Dawkins made two three pointers for Duke. Duke led 87-86 with 39 seconds go to when Grant was fouled. Grant would make both of his free throws to give the Orange a one point lead.

Christmas would block Rodney Hood's dunk effort with 15 seconds remaining, but Duke would get the ball and Sulaimon would make two free throws with 9 seconds left to give the Blue Devils an 89-88 lead. Syracuse would immediately bring the ball down and Ennis was fouled. Ennis would make both of his free throws giving Syracuse an 90-89 lead. Syracuse would steal the ball back, and Fair was fouled. Fair would make one of two free throws to give SU a 91-89 lead. Duke rushed the ball down the court, but Quinn Cook's last second shot was well off mark as the Orange would win the epic battle 91-89.

© RLYoung 2014