Skip to content

No. 5 Duke holds off No. 1 Gonzaga 84-81

     LAS VEGAS (AP) — In a town known for major championship fights, it seemed only fitting a long- anticipated 40-minute heavyweight bout between No. 1 Gonzaga and No.5 Duke take place in Las Vegas.

     Paolo Banchero scored 21 points to help Duke hold off a turnover-prone Gonzaga team 84-81 on Friday night in front of an announced 20,389 fans — the largest basketball crowd ever in Nevada. The Bulldogs closed the gap to three, 19-16, but Banchero scored 13 of Duke’s next 21 points. Duke held a 45-42 lead at halftime.

BIG PICTURE
     Duke: The Blue Devils faithful proved it travels well, with the majority of the crowd inside T-Mobile Arena draped in Duke blue.
     Gonzaga: Before Friday night, the Bulldogs trailed for a total of 3:18 in four games — against Texas, Alcorn State, Bellarmine, and UCLA. Gonzaga trailed for more than 20 minutes against Duke until retak- ing the lead on a pair of Timme free throws at the 17-minute mark of the second half.
UP NEXT
     Duke: Visits Ohio State on Tuesday.
Gonzaga: Hosts Tarleton State on Monday.

Leave a Comment