Make That 39, Men's Basketball Team Edges DePaul In OT, 84-83

DURHAM, N.C. (AP)(December 4) -- Freshman Nick Horvath hit a 3-pointer with 14.6 seconds left in overtime as No. 17 Duke rallied from a 12-point deficit to beat No. 22 DePaul 84-83 on Saturday night.

Horvath, who had just replaced Carlos Boozer for added offense, hit the game-winner from the top of the key as Duke (5-2) extended its winning streak Cameron Indoor Stadium to 39 games.

The Blue Devils, who got a career-high 22 points from Nate James, also won their fifth straight after starting the season 0-2.

Freshman Steven Hunter led the Blue Demons (4-2) with 21 points and 10 rebounds as all five DePaul starters had at least 14 points.

DePaul, which led most of the game, had one last chance for the victory, but Quentin Richardson, who scored 20 points, threw up an air ball from in close with senior Chris Carrawell providing some sticky defense. The ball went out of bounds to Duke with just a tick left as the fans stormed the floor at the final buzzer.

The Cameron Crazies might have willed Duke's young team to victory. Behind the chants of "Our House!" Duke took its first lead at 61-60 on James' free throw with 6:58 left.

The lead reached six points before the Blue Demons closed in down the stretch, and a free throw by Bobby Simmons with 24 seconds left tied it at 73.

Duke's Jason Williams, who played all 45 minutes, lost the ball driving to the basket as time expired to send the game into OT.

No team led by more than three in the extra period before Horvath's big shot.

The Blue Devils, coming off a three-point victory Tuesday at No. 16 Illinois, trailed 38-36 at haltime and fell behind by 12 to start the second half as DePaul opened with a 12-2 run behind two 3-pointers and a baseline jumper from 5-foot-7 Rashon Burno.

Duke's four 3-pointers over the next six minutes fueled its 18-6 run and produced a 56-56 tie with 9:49 left that produced the late-game drama.

James had a career-high 18 points--or half of Duke's 36 points--by halftime to keep Duke's struggling offense afloat.

The previous best for James was 15 points four games ago against Army.