BLACKSBURG, Va. - Austin Rivers scored 18 points, Ryan Kelly had 15, and No. 7 Duke used a late first-half run to open a double-digit lead it never relinquished in a 75-60 victory against Virginia Tech on Thursday night.
Kelly had seven points in the 13-2 spurt that helped the Blue Devils (19-3, 6-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) pull away. Rivers hit a 3-pointer, and Kelly scored the last five in a 10-0 burst in the second half when Duke extended its lead to 62-40 with 11:19 remaining.
Seth Curry added 11 points, and Mason Plumlee had 10 for Duke.
The loss was the seventh in eight games for Virginia Tech (12-10, 1-6). Five of the previous losses were by four points or fewer, but the Blue Devils left nothing to chance in avenging a 64-60 loss at Cassell Coliseum last February.
Erick Green led Virginia Tech with 17 points, and Victory Davila tied his career high with 16.
AP/ WFMY News 2 Sports