Duke basketball wastes heroic performance from Matthew Hurt

Duke basketball wasted a heroic performance from sophomore forward Matthew Hurt. 

It was a game that was vitally important to the Duke basketball team in hopes of earning an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament, and the only player that showed up was Matthew Hurt.

In what could be his last game in Cameron Indoor Stadium, the sophomore forward exploded for a career-high 37 points and seven rebounds in an 80-73 overtime loss to Louisville.

Hurt was 15-of-21 shooting from the field yet just 2-of-6 from three-point range, and he fouled out in the final seconds of overtime after needing to intentionally foul down by three with less than 20 seconds remaining.

Matthew Hurt’s scoring output was the most by a Blue Devil since Grayson Allen in the Champions Classic against Michigan State in 2017.

Wendell Moore was the only other Blue Devil to reach double figures with 13 points, eight rebounds, and four assists.

However, Duke had no answer for Carlik Jones, who went for 25 points on 9-of-18 shooting.

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Jones almost won the game for Louisville at the end of regulation as he split a pair of free throws to tie the game. But Mike Krzyzewski did not have 7-foot-1 freshman Mark Williams in the game, and the Cards secured the offensive rebound. Yet Jones’ game-winning attempt seconds later rimmed out.

Williams was also absent from the floor for a majority of overtime, despite Louisville driving to the basket at will against the suspect Blue Devil defense.

The freshman had eight points, six rebounds, three assists, and three blocks in 26 minutes.

Louisville out-rebounded Duke, 41-33, grabbing 14 offensive boards.

The trio of Jordan Goldwire, Jeremy Roach, and DJ Steward combined for 12 points on 3-of-21 shooting with nine turnovers.

Duke basketball still with hopes of NCAA Tournament bid

Despite the loss, the Blue Devils still have some hope at winning the NCAA Tournament with a two-game road trip looming against Georgia Tech and North Carolina.

The Yellow Jackets fell in a nailbiter against Duke in Durham earlier in the season while the Tar Heels emerged from Cameron victorious.

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Duke might have to win both games plus one game in the ACC Tournament to feel confident heading into Selection Sunday.

Tipoff against Georgia Tech is scheduled for 8:00pm EST (ACC Network) on Tuesday, March 2 at the McCamish Pavilion.