LOUISVILLE, Ky. – No. 9 Duke went on a 12-0 run late in the second half, highlighted by consecutive three-pointers from freshman AJ Griffin, to pull away from Louisville, 74-65, Saturday afternoon at the KFC Yum! Center.
Griffin finished 5-of-5 from behind the arc for a game-high 22 points to help the Blue Devils (17-3, 7-2 ACC) kick off their three-game road swing with a victory. After a step back three by El Ellis tied the game at 60-60 with 8:28 remaining, Duke clamped down defensively and hit some key shots with timely rebounds down the stretch. Sydney Curry had a pair of good looks under the basket in the Cardinals’ next two possessions, but each were swatted at the rim – first by sophomore Mark Williams and then by freshman Paolo Banchero. Williams followed up with another block a minute later, when he extended his right hand to deny a Mason Faulkner three-point attempt from the corner and was able to maintain possession for the Blue Devils.
Williams (14 points, 11 rebounds) and Banchero (11 points, 15 rebounds) each notched a double-double and were able to establish their presence on the interior, as Duke finished with 42 points in the paint. Sophomore Jeremy Roach continued his strong play over the past two weeks, dishing out five assists with just one turnover to go with nine points and four boards. Junior Wendell Moore Jr., added 10 points – eight coming in the second half – with five dimes.
Ellis led Louisville (11-10, 5-6 ACC) in scoring with 18 points, while Dre Davis had 16 and Malik Williams recorded a 10-point, 12-rebound double-double. After the Blue Devils shot out to a 24-8 lead midway through the first half, the Cardinals chipped away and cut the deficit down to two nearing the end of the period. A half-court three launched by Griffin as the buzzer sounded increased Duke’s advantage to five at the break.
Louisville clawed back and tied the game twice in the second half, bringing the crowd of 18,493 to its feet, but the Cardinals were never able to take a lead.
Duke faces another road test on Monday night when it heads to South Bend, Ind., for a 7 p.m. matchup with Notre Dame. The game, which was rescheduled after the original meeting on Jan. 1 was postponed due to health and safety protocols, will air on ESPN.
