Redick, Williams Combine For 48 As Duke Downs Virginia Tech

Thursday, January 26

Blacksburg, Va.

7 p.m.

Duke University

Virginia Tech

Top Ranked Duke Upset By Florida State 79-74

Redick, Williams Combine For 48 As Duke Downs Virginia Tech

1/26/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

By: Duke Sports Information

BLACKSBURG, Va. - J.J. Redick and Shelden Williams each scored 24 points and Williams added 15 rebounds as No. 2 Duke defeated Virginia Tech in yet another heated battle between the two teams here at Cassell Coliseum.

Duke improved to 18-1 on the season and remained perfect with a 6-0 record in the ACC while Virginia Tech fell to 10-9 and 0-6 in the ACC. Duke improved to 28-4 in the last 10 years after a loss.

Virginia Tech took an early 2-0 lead but it would be the only lead of the night for the Hokies. Duke scored four straight buckets including a dunk from Josh McRoberts to quickly go up 8-2 in the game's first four minutes.

A Wynton Witherspoon three-pointer cut Duke's lead to one at 10-9 at quick 6-0 run with two points each from McRoberts, Redick and Williams put Duke back up seven at 16-9. The two played relatively close for the next four minutes and a DeMarcus Nelson layup gave Duke its first double-digit lead at 32-21 with 8:30 remaining in the first half. The two teams would combine for just five points in the final five minutes of the first half as Duke held a 43-30 advantage headed into the lockerroom.

Duke quickly jumped over the Hokies in the second half, opening the half on a 13-3 run to push the lead to the game's highest at 23 with a 56-33 Duke advantage just five minutes into the half.

Virginia Tech closed the lead to 13 at the 6:30 mark of the game and then down to 12 at the 3:05 and 1:53 marks of the game.

McRoberts returned to Duke's starting line-up after three games coming off the bench and responded by hitting 4-of-6 field goals for eight points, seven rebounds, four assists, three blocks and a pair of steals in 30 minutes.

Nelson returned to action for the first time since suffering a bone bruise to his right ankle against Maryland on Jan. 11. Nelson originally sustained a different injury to the same ankle against Drexel on Nov. 23 and missed nine games. For this latest injury, he missed three games but responded with seven points and two assists in 16 minutes of action.

Lee Melchionni recorded seven rebounds, including a pair of offensive rebounds on a late possession in the game which enabled Duke to run the clock down. Melchionni fouled out on a play that saw Deron Washington ejected for kicking Melchionni in the face after Melchionni attempted to draw a charge.

Greg Paulus scored six points and added a game-high five assists.

The Blue Devils will return to Cameron Indoor Stadium less than 48 hours after the Virginia Tech game as they host surprising Virginia in a 7 p.m. tipoff Saturday. Virginia stands tied for second in the ACC with a 4-2 league record.