Duke Blue Devils Blow Lead, Fall to Notre Dame

By Tyler Hoxsie | Jan 28, 2015

The No. 4 ranked Duke Blue Devils blew a 10 point second half lead in South Bend and fall to the No. 8 ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

The Blue Devils held a 65-55 lead with 10:43 left in the game, but then their offense disappeared. In the last 10 minutes, Duke went scoreless for five minutes. The offensive drought for the Blue Devils allowed Notre Dame to climb back in the game, and eventually take a 67-65 lead.

For the first time this season it was not Duke’s defense that failed them, rather it was their offense and free-throw shooting. After Notre Dame took their first lead since late in the first half, Duke responded.

Jan 28, 2015; South Bend, IN, USA; Duke Blue Devils center Jahlil Okafor (15) shoots as Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Zach Auguste (30) defends in the first half at the Purcell Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Duke pounded the ball into Jahlil Okafor just about every possession in the final five minutes. Okafor scored five straight points and the Blue Devils were in the lead 70-69. Then the offense disappeared again.

The Blue Devils would only score three points in the last 3:48 of the game. Notre Dame took over. Their defense down the stretch was outstanding. The Irish were physical and aggressive on defense and didn’t allow Duke any easy shots.

Jerian Grant was pivotal down the stretch for Notre Dame. Perhaps the biggest play of the game came by ways of a miracle. Grant had the ball at the top of the key with Tyus Jones defending him. Jones knocked the ball loose, Grant recovered and threw up an off-balanced shot, which was tightly contested by Rasheed Sulaimon.

Somehow Grant made the jumper. The off-balanced heave gave the Irish a 73-70 lead with 1:11 left to play. Quinn Cook came down the floor and attacked the paint aggressively. Cook was fouled and calmly sank both free throws.

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With the game in the balance the Irish turned to their star yet again. Grant dribbled down the shot-clock and made another great play, which was helped out by some poor defense. Grant backed the defender down from the top of the key, jumped in the air and found a wide open Steve Vasturia. Vastura drilled a corner 3-pointer which sealed the game.

Duke was forced into having to score quickly. Sulaimon was fouled and made only one of his two attempts from the line. Notre Dame passed the ball to freshman Bonzie Colson, a 68 percent free-throw shooter, and he was the benefit of a lucky bounce. Colson made the first free-throw after it bounced off the front rim and went in.

Colson missed the second free throw and then Sulaimon took a shot that makes you wonder what he was thinking. Sulaimon pulled up from just over half-court with four seconds left and the game was over.

Game MVP:

Jerian Grant. Grant was spectacular throughout the game and made every play that the Irish needed. Whether they needed someone to score or get a teammate open the ball was in the hands of Grant. Grant finished the game with 23 points, 12 assists, 6 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 blocks. His biggest block ultimately ended the game. Cook drove the lane down 4 points with 19 seconds left and Grant blocked Cook’s shot and kept the ball in play.

Jan 28, 2015; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Jerian Grant (22) blocks the shot attempt by Duke Blue Devils guard Quinn Cook (2) in the second half at the Purcell Pavilion. Notre Dame won 77-73. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Inside the Box Score:

The Blue Devils had four players score in double figures. Okafor led the way with another monster double-double. He scored 22 points and pulled in 17 rebounds. Cook contributed 15 points and played all 40 minutes of the game.

Jones finished the game with 14 points and Justise Winslow broke out of his slump with 13 points.

Even though the Blue Devils had four players score in double figures they got no production from their bench. Sulaimon, 3 points, and Matt Jones, 2 points, were the only players to score off the bench.

One of the biggest reason that Duke lost the game was their poor free-throw shooting. The Blue Devils were only 10-20 from the free throw line and missed a number of those down the stretch. The poor free-throw shooting ultimately doomed Duke and let Notre Dame back in the game.

What’s Next:

The Duke Blue Devils next game doesn’t isn’t going to be an easy one. They travel to the undefeated and No. 2 ranked Virginia Cavaliers on Saturday. Duke will need to make their free throws and have a strong performance from Sulaimon if they hope to pull of the upset.

With the loss the Blue Devils fall to 17-3 overall and 4-3 in ACC play.

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