Duke (21-7, 8-6 ACC), ranked 18th in the AP poll and 17th in the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll, faces unranked St. John's (15-13, 6-9 Big East) on Sunday at Madison Square Garden. Tip-off is set for - Continue

Duke held on to defeat Clemson after losing a sizable lead.  Of course, it is the final score that counts and Duke outplayed the Tigers for most of the game.  The Tigers lost for the 21st straight time in the series.

If you are a numbers freak, Duke won its 21st game of the season too.  They now stand 21-7, and more importantly, are 8-6 in conference play.

Just a week ago, people were questioning whether Duke was even going to make the tournament.  Now, they are working towards their usual high seed.

Duke came in well prepared for the game.  The staff had the team ready to play despite the recent virus bug.  Duke shot 52% for the game. 

"We played an almost perfect first half.  With their crowd and where they are [backs against the wall] they weren't going to fold.  We became tentative which a is the sign of a young team,' said Coach K to Bob Harris.

He went on, "we are telling them to run, but all of a sudden we are not doing that.  They [Clemson] press  well they have a good press and it disrupted us."

Jon led Duke with 18 points. Scheyer was 5-6 from the field, 3-3 from three, 5-5 from the free throw stripe.  He grabbed 6 rebounds, and had 1 assist and 1 steal. 

"People talk of out motion offense, but we stuck with it.  It works for us.  We've won 3 championships ..National and several ACC titles. We made some big plays late ... Josh's full court drive  and lay up,  Scheyer 3's and Paulus 3's, said K."

Scheyer led the Devils with 18 points, making several big free throws which helped tame the Tigers.

"It was a game where we had the lead early, but let them back in," said Duke freshman Jon Scheyer.  He went on, "we got conservative and had to make a couple of plays.  Nelson and Paulus hit me with good passes allowing me the good look."  That was in reference to his late 3's.

"We prepared well.  Our upper classmen were good all week long in getting the guys ready.  It was a good win versus a team that had their backs against the wall  for an NCAA bid," said Coach K. 

He spoke of Paulus too. He mentioned how Greg was kicking the ball out properly in the motion 2-3 offense.

Greg has put together two nice games and seems to be finding his groove.  His shots from beyond the arc, kept the Tigers from making a huge run until late in the game.  Duke has got a lot better of late and has learned how to hold on for a win.

Jon Scheyer may have said it best last evening, "We just worry about ourselves.  If we prepare and win, good things will happen."

The Blue Devils will travel to New York City to take on St. John's on Saturday.   They will then play their final game of the season in Cameron against Maryland in a game that will have great importance in the ACC standings.  Duke closes next week out with rival UNC.

OFFICIAL GAME NOTES

BOX SCORE