Missing Key Players, No. 1 Duke Suffers Historic Loss in OT
Top-ranked Duke escaped Florida State with a win last Saturday on a buzzer-beater by Cam Reddish, but the Blue Devils would not survive Syracuse on Monday night. The Orange knocked off Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium with a historic 95-91 win in overtime.
It was the first time Duke had lost at Cameron when ranked No. 1 in the country since 2006, according to ESPN.
Further, it was the first time the Blue Devils had lost at home to a team other than North Carolina when ranked No. 1. They had been 104-0 by that metric.
Duke falls to 14-2 on the year, 3-1 in the ACC, and most certainly will lose its No. 1 ranking. Syracuse improved to 12-5 and 3-1 in the ACC. The win could move the Orange into the top 25.
It was a wild game that featured a three-quarter-court buzzer-beater by Syracuse at the half, some key injuries to Duke and ice-cold shooting by the Blue Devils from 3.
The three-quarter court shot at the end of half by Syracuse’s Elijah Hughes cut Duke’s lead to 49-48 — and it was a sign that the Orange weren’t going away.
Elijah Hughes hits an incredible buzzer beater to keep Syracuse close with Duke at the half #CUSEvsDUKE? pic.twitter.com/6mBLFNw3Rb
— The Rundown (@rundownsports22) January 15, 2019
“When that shot went in, it just showed what kind of night it was for them,” Duke freshman Zion Williamson said. “It seemed like everything they threw up was just bottom of the net. They just hit a lot of shots.”
It might have felt that way to Williamson, but Syracuse only shot 43.8 percent from the field. However, the Orange shot great from 3-point range at 44 percent.
Duke, on the other hand, shot just 39 percent from the field and a frigid 21 percent from 3(9-of-43).
A lot of those misses came from freshman R.J. Barrett. He had 23 points, but he took a lot of shots to get there, going 8-for-30 from the field and 4-of 17-from 3. He did have 16 rebounds.
Williamson kept the Devils in the game, scoring 35 points on 12-of-20 shooting. The 35 points were a Duke freshman record, according to ESPN.
Zion Williamson breaks Duke record for most points in a game with this FT. He has 35 on 12 of 19 shooting. pic.twitter.com/Y36t27FVQI
— Carolina Blitz (@KeepBlitzin) January 15, 2019
Duke was also hurt by the fact that Cam Reddish missed the game with an illness and Tre Jones went out just two minutes into the game with a shoulder injury while diving for a loose ball.
Duke’s Tre Jones suffered a shoulder injury diving for a loose ball and is questionable to return to Syracuse’s game tonight: https://t.co/qYhC5kH4lu pic.twitter.com/cMQjbpcU6O
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) January 15, 2019
Jones was diagnosed with an AC joint separation and is out indefinitely, reported ESPN.
Duke didn’t get much production from the player who replaced Reddish in the starting lineup. Jack White went 0-for-10 from the field and scored no points.
“The game plan was to have Tre Jones and Cameron Reddish,” Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said, reported ESPN. “When you get two guys hurt, there is no game plan anymore. It’s a period of adjustment. You’re trying to find ways to win.”
Williamson made a free throw with 17 seconds left in regulation to tie it at 85 and send the game to overtime. Syracuse’s Paschal Chukwu scored the last four points in overtime, including a dunk with 44 seconds left to seal the win for the Orange.
Tyus Battle had 32 points to lead Syracuse, while Hughes added 20.
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