Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 22, 1992 TAG: 9203220089
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BILL BRILL SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: GREENSBORO, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
The Hawkeyes all but had their bags packed to go home at halftime because of a ferocious Duke defense, but they turned the tables.
They trailed by 26 points in the first half and were down by 22 in the second half before their swarming press confused and denied the No. 1 Blue Devils. In a period of just 2:02, Iowa cut the margin to eight with a 14-0 spree.
It was at that point that Duke showed why it is the pre-tournament favorite. After taking a timeout, the Blue Devils scored eight straight points, went on a 15-4 run, and eliminated the Hawkeyes 75-62.
Next for Duke is Seton Hall on Thursday in Philadelphia.
Duke (30-2) won despite its worst offensive game of the year and - by far - its worst half.
"It was a different kind of game," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "For 19 minutes, we played great defense. But we had 48 points at halftime and it looked like we were shooting well, but we weren't. It was our defense and rebounding."
Despite 37.8 percent accuracy, Duke led 48-24 at halftime because it had forced 13 turnovers and dominated the offensive boards, resulting in numerous stickbacks.
"We got very out of whack," said Iowa coach Tom Davis, who made several subtle references to the officiating.
According to Chris Street, one of two Hawkeyes to foul out: "They [the Blue Devils] shut down our game plan. It wasn't intimidation. It was just real good defensive pressure."
In the second half, the Hawkeyes (19-12) turned up the defensive intensity. Their pressure on the ball after a basket forced numerous long passes, several of which strayed.
And Iowa made six straight shots, two of them threes, and Duke threw it away three times.
Just like that, it was 58-50 and Krzyzewski took his second timeout in less than five minutes.
After the huddle, the Devils regained their poise. In particular, they showed their ability to run down the shot clock and score.
Christian Laettner, who became the second all-time NCAA Tournament scorer with 333 points after 19 Saturday, hit two foul shots. Then Bobby Hurley, on a 1-on-3 break, sank a jumper. "That was a big-time shot," Krzyzewski said. "He had the courage to take it."
But the killer came on the next possession. There were two seconds left on the shot clock, Laettner was triple-teamed at the baseline, but he swished a rainbow.
"That was a crucial shot," Davis said. "A tough shot. That's why he's the best."
Duke did it again on its next trip downcourt. As the clock ticked away the seconds, Hurley drove the middle and tossed up a high, under-handed shot over Acie Earl. It rolled in and any hope Iowa had of producing a miracle comeback was gone.
"I knew I had to throw it up high," Hurley said. "It looked like Earl was blocking everything."
Earl, the 6-foot-10 junior, did get eight blocks, third highest in NCAA history. He also had 19 points and 12 rebounds, but five of his turnovers came in the crucial first half, when Iowa couldn't run its offense.
Duke shot just 38.6 percent, by far its poorest of the year. Its 27 points in the last half was a season low, and 15 turnovers were a major contributor.
\ see microfilm for box score
Keywords:
BASKETBALL
by CNB