Smith lifts No. 7 Duke past Clemson 60-47

By: JournalNow Staff | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: January 24, 2010

Nolan Smith scored 22 points and No. 7 Duke wiped out an ugly memory from last season with a 60-47 victory against No. 17 Clemson last night.

It was last February when the Blue Devils (16-3, 4-2 ACC) suffered their most lopsided defeat in nearly two decades, falling to the Tigers 74-47 at Littlejohn Coliseum.

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski called time out in the final moments of that game, wanting his players to soak in the cheers of Tigers fans.

In this one, Smith and Duke's defense ensured the Blue Devils a much happier finish.

Smith had nine points during a 14-2 second half run that put Duke ahead 43-30 with 12:33 left. Clemson couldn't get closer than six points the rest of the way.

Trevor Booker led the Tigers (15-5, 3-3) with 22 points.

It was Clemson's fewest points at home since a 52-47 loss to Maryland on Jan. 25, 2003. Booker got little help from his teammates -- while Booker made 10 of 14 shots, the rest of the Tigers were 8 of 34.

Duke broke free from a 23-all halftime tie with six straight points to open the second half. After Clemson cut the lead to 29-28, Smith helped the Blue Devils take control.

Kyle Singler started the run with a 3-pointer, then Smith added another from long range. After Singler's driving basket, Smith scored the next six points to put Duke ahead by 13.

Lance Thomas added 13 points, Singler 12 and Jon Scheyer 11 for Duke, which bounced back from a midweek defeat at N.C. State.

Clemson lost its second straight to a ranked ACC opponent after falling at Georgia Tech last Tuesday.

Many in the crowd were still jacked up from the Blue Devils' last visit -- the 27-point Clemson victory here last winter was Duke's most lopsided defeat since the 1990 national championship loss to UNLV.

Before losing here last season, though, Duke had won 22 straight over Clemson, including nine in a row on the Tigers' home floor.

Duke got a measure of payback earlier this month, a 74-53 win over the Tigers at Cameron Indoor Stadium to open ACC play. In that one, Clemson was a miserable 5 of 30 in the opening half to fall behind 30-12.