Duke basketball: 3 takeaways from season saving effort against Sparty

The Duke basketball team saved its season with an outstanding comeback in the Round of 32. 

It was not a game for the faint of heart as the Duke basketball season, and career of Mike Krzyzewski, came down to 3:43.

The Blue Devils trailed by three, 72-69, before the team was able to show its championship makeup and end the game on a 13-2 run to win, 85-76.

Duke shot 57.1-percent from the floor yet only connected at a 38.5-percent clip from 3-point territory, but Trevor Keels and Jeremy Roach hit the most important 3-pointers for the Blue Devils in the second half.

ALSO READ: Duke shows the moment is not too big in comeback

Michigan State hit 50.0-percent of its 3-pointers (11-of-22) and 91.7-percent of its free throws (11-of-12) but still could not hold off the determined Blue Devils in the final four minutes in the Round of 32.

The victory gave Duke a berth in the Sweet 16 and a date with the Texas Tech Red Raiders in San Francisco, California on Thursday night.

The other matchup in the Bay Area features the top overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, the Gonzaga Bulldogs, against the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Duke basketball sees injury to key forward in Round of 32

Freshman forward AJ Griffin went down with an ankle sprain in the second half of Sunday’s victory against Michigan State and did not return for the remainder of the game.

Griffin never left the bench, but after being tended to on the court, he appeared able to check back into the game if needed.

ALSO READ: Duke with serious injury concerns

The sharpshooter was celebrating on the court and in the locker room following Duke’s win and will be ready to go on Thursday night, according to Mike Krzyzewski.

Tipoff is scheduled for 9:39 p.m EST on CBS from the Chase Center.