The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Duke escapes Yale’s late rally
Up 23 at half, Blue Devils hold on after Bulldogs cut lead to three points.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — In a battle of schools with stellar academic reputations, the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Duke nearly got a tough lesson from Ivy League champion Yale.
After cruising early, the Blue Devils needed some of their most clutch moments in a season that they have often felt as if they were on the brink of disaster to avoid becoming the NCAA Tournament’s latest upset victim.
Grayson Allen had 29 points, including five 3-pointers, to help Duke (25-10) fend off a furious rally by Yale (237) and advance to the Sweet 16 with a 71-64 victory Saturday.
“Our house is on a cliff, and we hope it doesn’t rain,” coach Mike Krzyzewski said. “That’s who we’ve been. And so I really have an appreciation for that.”
Krzyzewski said he remains in awe of a young team he thought would not even make the tournament after senior Amile Jefferson was lost for the season in December to a foot injury.
The West Region’s No. 4 seed, Duke led by as many as 27 points before seeing that dwindle to just three with less than a minute to play. But steely free throws by freshman Brandon Ingram and Allen secured the defending champions a place in the tournament’s second weekend.
Ingram added 25 points and five rebounds for Duke, which will next play in Anaheim, Calif., against the winner of tonight’s game in Spokane, Washington, between top-seeded Oregon (29-6) and No. 8 seed St. Joseph’s (28-7).
“The tournament is cra- zy, and you saw two games today where all four teams won a half,” Krzyzewski said. “Thank goodness for us, we won the last minute of the second half.”
Yale came close to forcing a needed late turnover, but eventually had to foul. Duke connected on four of its final five free-throws to close out the game.
Brandon Sherrod led the 12th-seeded Bulldogs with 22 points. Justin Sears added 12 points and 11 rebounds.
“We had four seniors on this team, and Duke, they hit us with a barrage of — a heavy haymaker they hit us with,” Sears said. “And we got in the locker room and we said, ‘We have 20 more minutes to make a statement.’ ”
Yale kept chipping away and a tip-in by Sears off a missed free throw by Sherrod made it 67-64 with just 39 seconds to play.
Leading 69-64, Duke missed on a one-and-one opportunity, but Yale couldn’t capitalize on its next possession. Allen was fouled and he hit in a pair of free throws to clinch it.