The #2 Blue Devils traveled to Charlottesville to take on the #3 Cavaliers in a top-tier ACC battle. Duke won the previous matchup in Durham 72-70, and Virginia wanted revenge.
Duke, who shot their best all season, started the game hot and went on an 8-0 run. Virginia could never recover and the Blue Devils went away with a solid 81-71 win.
RJ Barrett following the game was interviewed and said, “We love road games. That’s why we wear black, because it’s their funeral”.
The Blue Devils shot 62% from 3, RJ Barrett (6-10) and Cam Reddish (5-8) leading the way. A game that was in Duke’s hands all evening never got out of hand. Any moment where Virginia had a spark, the Blue Devil’s responded immediately.
Virginia got the game within 4 heading into the locker rooms, but Coach K and his squad never let their foot off the gas. Duke’s freshmen handled the Wahoos on offense and knew how to break the famous Virginia defense, putting up the most points the Wahoos have allowed this season.
Virginia is now one game behind Duke and North Carolina who are tied atop the ACC. Virginia is now 20-2, both of their losses coming to the Blue Devils.
Duke, 21-2 and 9-1 in the conference, travel to Louisville to face the Cardinals Tuesday night.
Virginia, 20-2 and 8-2 in the conference, will head to Chapel Hill to go to war against the Tar Heels Monday evening.