Boeheim buoyed, but Duke prevails
No matter the outcome, Jim Boeheim needed this.
Three days after the Hall of Fame coach of Syracuse struck and killed a pedestrian on a darkened highway that leads out of town, he returned to the bench Saturday night. Boeheim’s first public appearance since the Wednesday night accident that killed 51-yearold Jorge Jimenez came in a 75-65 loss to top-ranked Duke and coach Mike Krzyzewski.
The 74-year-old Boeheim had addressed the team Thursday but did not take part in practice. Although he returned for practice Friday, he had not appeared in public until he made his way Carrier Dome ovation from crowd.
Head down, Boeheim made his way to center court and acknowledged the crowd with a brief wave before giving Krzyzewski a heartfelt hug.
A moment of silence was observed before the game for Jimenez and his family.
Once the game started, it seemed like just another tilt featuring the two winningest coaches in NCAA Division I history. The topranked Blue Devils (24-3, 12-2 ACC), playing without injured freshman star Zion Williamson, improved to 7-0 on the road in the conference.
Tyus Battle into the to a big a record led Syracuse (18-8, 9-4) with 16 points.
Tennessee still sliding: Javonte Smart capped a career-best 29-point performance with a crucial rebound and go-ahead free throws in the final seconds, and No. 13 LSU outlasted fifth-ranked Tennessee 8280 in overtime in Baton Rouge, La.
Smart began to take over the game with about six minutes left in regulation, scoring 11 straight Tigers points to prevent Tennessee from pulling away.
Skyler Mays added 23 points, including a gametying 3 with 1:16 left in regulation for LSU (22-5, 12-2 SEC), which pulled into a tie with Tennessee atop the conference despite playing without leading scorer Tremont Waters.
Admiral Schofield had 27 points for Tennessee (24-3, 12-2), which has lost two of three after spending about a month ranked No. 1.
Tar Heels cruise: Cameron Johnson had 18 points and 10 rebounds, and No. 8 North Carolina routed No. 16 Florida State 77-59 in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Luke Maye added 15 points and 11 rebounds while freshman Nassir Little scored 18 points. The Tar Heels (22-5, 12-2 ACC) have won 10 of 11.
David Nichols scored 16 points and Terance Mann added 10 for the Seminoles (21-6, 9-5), who had won eight straight.