DURHAM — Fifth-ranked Duke, which could be poised for another appearance atop the national rankings, broke away from Georgia Tech for a 79-57 victory in Atlantic Coast Conference men’s basketball Sunday night at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
League scoring leader Nolan Smith of Duke scored 28 points, including 20 in the second half. He had all four of his assists in the second half as well.
Duke (25-2 overall, 12-1 ACC) won its sixth game in a row. It was its first home game since rallying to beat North Carolina on Feb. 9.
The rematch from last year’s ACC Tournament final began with Georgia Tech finding spots in Duke’s defense for nine points in less than three minutes.
“It was a very physical first 10 minutes, a lot of pushing, knocking around,” Smith said. “We had to adjust.”
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski was assessed a technical foul with 10:16 remaining in the first half, and Ian Shumpert’s four ensuing free throws resulted in an 18-13 lead for the Yellow Jackets.
“When he gets one, it usually gives us a little spark,” Duke senior Kyle Singler said of his coach’s technical foul.
Smith said: “There was a lot going on. It got us going. … That’s a sign he’s fighting for us.”
The Blue Devils weren’t called for another foul for the rest of the half, scoring the final nine points before the break for a 37-28 lead.
“It was outstanding how we ended the half,” Krzyzewski said. “And then we carried it over.”
Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt said Duke’s 10 first-half offensive rebounds were major blows to his team.
Krzyzewski said Georgia Tech went with a different starting lineup than the Blue Devils expected, using senior guard Lance Storrs as a starter for the first time in an ACC game this season.
“The game plan we had wasn’t appropriate for the (lineup) they had,” Krzyzewski said.
Duke chose to look inside for many of its shots, launching only 16 shots from 3-point range for the second game in a row. All except two of Duke’s fastbreak points came in the second half.
Singler responded from his two-point outing Wednesday night at Virginia to rack up 15 points.
Shumpert and Maurice Miller scored 13 points apiece for Georgia Tech (11-15, 3-9).
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