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Duke Basketball: Against ACC foe, Blue Devils eyeing an Elite 8 bid

By Kevin Connelly

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 29: Ahmed Hill #13 of the Virginia Tech Hokies celebrates a three point basket against the Duke Blue Devils during the first half in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 29: Ahmed Hill #13 of the Virginia Tech Hokies celebrates a three point basket against the Duke Blue Devils during the first half in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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The Duke Basketball team is playing for a berth in the Elite 8 against the Virginia Tech Hokies in the Sweet 16 in Washington D.C.

The starting five was supposed to the same as last weekend for the Blue Devils tonight with Tre Jones, Cam Reddish, R.J. Barrett, Zion Williamson, and Javin DeLaurier, but Cam Reddish did not come out of the locker room with the team and Alex O’Connell got the start over Reddish.

The Hokies got out to a hot start shooting the ball, but Duke would respond thanks to some big 3-pointers by Tre Jones mid-way through the first half.

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Duke did not lead in the first 20 minutes until the 6:31 mark of the first half and at halftime the Hokies lead 38-34.

Zion Williamson led the way for the Blue Devils 11 points, four rebounds, two blocks, and a steal, while shooting five of eight from the floor.

Tre Jones was excellent offensively with 12 points and three assists, making four of his seven shots and three, 3-pointers.

R.J. Barrett didn’t have his best half in terms scoring with just two points on one of seven shooting, but he did have seven assists and two rebounds.

In what was unlikely before the game, Jack White saw limited minutes in the first half in his first action in about two weeks after dealing with a hamstring injury.

White did not score, but Alex O’Connell and Javin DeLaurier finished the half with four points each.

While Duke did make its shots from 3-point range in the first half, (4 of 11) the Blue Devils need to get the ball into the paint and try to get Virginia Tech into foul trouble.

The Blue Devils also have to stay connected to then 3-point shooters of Virginia Tech and close out much better on shooters.

Virginia Tech was able to shoot 7-of-11 from 3-point range.

Stay tuned to Ball Durham on Twitter, @Ball_Durham, and here at our website, balldurham.com, for complete coverage of the Duke Blue Devils vs. the Virginia Tech Hokies.

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