Duke, Tre Jones Win Their Atlantic Coast Conference Opener At Virginia Tech

It’s only December but yet Atlantic Coast Conference play has already started for Duke who traveled to Blacksburg where they would take on Virginia Tech at Cassel Coliseum on Friday night.

Though the confines of Cassel Coliseum haven’t been so kind to Duke. As a matter of fact they haven’t won there since the 2014-15 season when Tyus Jones who is Tre Jones older brother was the point guard for Mike Krzyzewski and Duke won the National Championship.

In Duke’s Atlantic Coast Conference opener this season however that changed with Tyus Jones younger brother Tre Jones running the offense for Duke.

Tre Jones was pleased that when No. 10 Duke fell behind early at Virginia Tech, the Blue Devils showed composure and gradually worked their way back. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/12/6/second-half-pushes-no-10-duke-past-virginia-tech-77-63.aspx

Jones had four in that latter burst, which ended with the Blue Devils ahead 62-55. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/12/6/second-half-pushes-no-10-duke-past-virginia-tech-77-63.aspx

First year Virginia Tech head coach Mike Young had this to say about Mike Krzyzewski’s point guard.

"Tre Jones is so disruptive. He's made great progress with his game offensively but he is a mean dude defensively," Hokies first-year coach Mike Young said.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/12/6/second-half-pushes-no-10-duke-past-virginia-tech-77-63.aspx

As for the other players who contributed for Duke,

Freshmen Vernon Carey Jr. and Wendell Moore Jr. added 12 points each for the Blue Devils (9-1, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference), who had lost three in a row in Cassell Coliseum. They used runs of 12-2 just after halftime and 12-3 a short time later to take command after trailing for almost the entire first half. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/12/6/second-half-pushes-no-10-duke-past-virginia-tech-77-63.aspx

While Duke won their Atlantic Coast Conference opener Virginia Tech suffered their first loss in Atlantic Coast Conference play.

Virginia Tech led No. 10 Duke at halftime, but couldn't hold on, as the Blue Devils turned up the defensive pressure in the second and used Tre Jones' team-high 15 points to knock off the Hokies 77-63 in an ACC game played Friday night at Carilion Clinic Court. “according to https://hokiesports.com/news/2019/12/6/mens-basketball-no-10-duke-rallies-in-second-half-knocks-off-hokies.aspx

With the loss, the Hokies fell to 6-3 overall, 1-1 in the ACC. Duke moved to 9-1 overall, 1-0 in league play. “according to https://hokiesports.com/news/2019/12/6/mens-basketball-no-10-duke-rallies-in-second-half-knocks-off-hokies.aspx

Tech grabbed a 45-38 lead on a layup by Nahiem Alleyne with 19:01 remaining. Duke called a timeout and went to a smaller lineup and that worked, as the Blue Devils went on a 12-2 run, taking a 50-47 lead on two free throws and a layup by Wendell Moore.”according to https://hokiesports.com/news/2019/12/6/mens-basketball-no-10-duke-rallies-in-second-half-knocks-off-hokies.aspx

The Hokies retook the lead when P.J. Horne hit a 3-pointer with 11:11 left, but the Blue Devils scored the next four points and never trailed again. Tech went cold from the field, hitting just two field goals over a span of more than nine minutes, and a 17-2 Duke run in the final nine minutes sealed the game for the Blue Devils.”according to https://hokiesports.com/news/2019/12/6/mens-basketball-no-10-duke-rallies-in-second-half-knocks-off-hokies.aspx

Tech shot 48.2 percent from the floor, but made just 9 of 22 in the second half. The Hokies struggled from beyond the 3-point arc, hitting just 5 of 20 for the game, and they turned the ball over 14 times. “according to https://hokiesports.com/news/2019/12/6/mens-basketball-no-10-duke-rallies-in-second-half-knocks-off-hokies.aspx

Horne led the Hokies with 15 points, hitting 6 of 13 from the floor, including three 3-pointers. Wabissa Bede and Tyrece Radford scored 12 each for Tech, while Vernon Carey and Moore scored 12 each for the Blue Devils, who shot 50 percent in the second half.”according to https://hokiesports.com/news/2019/12/6/mens-basketball-no-10-duke-rallies-in-second-half-knocks-off-hokies.aspx

Duke will now take a break for exams. They will however return to the court on Thursday December 19th when they host Wofford where Mike Young was the head coach before becoming the head coach at Virginia Tech.