Luke Kennard, No. 17 Duke rally past Wake Forest
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — With an unlikely chance to win based on how Saturday afternoon’s game unfolded, Duke was going to get the ball to Luke Kennard on the final possession.
It couldn’t have worked out better for the No. 17 Blue Devils.
Kennard’s 3-point basket from the right wing with 6.6 seconds to play gave Duke an 85-83 comeback victory against host Wake Forest at sold-out Lawrence Joel Coliseum.
“He delivered,” Duke interim coach Jeff Capel said. “He was in such a rhythm. When you have a guy going like that, you have to keep going to him.
Kennard, a sophomore guard, finished with 34 points for the Blue Devils (16-5, 4-4 ACC), who trailed 81-71 with four minutes to play. He shot 11-for-14 from the field, including 6-for-6 on 3-point attempts.
“We shared the ball well,” Kennard said. “I was just kind of feeling it.”
Grayson Allen added 19 points for Duke, which was in danger of suffering its fourth loss in five games.
“The way our team fought and battled it meant something today,” said Kennard, who poured in 30 points after halftime. “The second half, that’s the team we want to be.”
Wake Forest guard Bryan Crawford tallied 26 points, John Collins had 20 points and Keyshawn Woods finished with 15 for Wake Forest (12-9, 3-6). Crawford missed on a baseline runner in the final second with a chance to tie.
There were 50 fouls called in the game, with Duke in the most serious foul trouble.
“It was such a disjointed first half and we were in such foul trouble,” Capel said. “I was real proud of how we fought and stayed together and pushed each other.”
Within 63 seconds, Duke forwards Jayson Tatum, Harry Giles and Amile Jefferson picked up their fourth…
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