Nolan Smith scored twenty of his game high twenty eight points in the second half as Duke handed Georgia Tech its twelfth consecutive ACC road loss. Kyle Singler added fifteen points and nine rebounds for the Blue Devils.
With the four teams ranked ahead of Duke all losing this week, the Blue Devils made their case to return to the number one ranking by outscoring Tech 42-29 in the second half. Duke's pressure defense is its trademark particularly at Cameron Indoor. The Blue Devils smothered Tech's leading scorer Iman Shumpert forcing him into a tough thirteen points on four of sixteen shooting. Mo Miller also scored thirteen points while Glen Rice Jr scored twelve for the Yellow Jackets. Tech connected on only 33% of its shots while going three for fifteen from three-point range.
In addition to its twelfth consecutive ACC road defeat this was Georgia Tech's sixth consecutive ACC loss. Their only win in that streak came against non-conference foe Chattanooga. Tech road woes have now reached an all-time low as the Yellow Jackets have won only six times in their last forty road ACC games. Tech falls to 11-15 overall and 3-9 in the ACC.
Tech has four more regular season games remaining. They return home for a match-up with Virginia this Wednesday before heading back out on the road to take on N.C. State and Wake Forrest. The Yellow Jackets will wrap up their regular season against Miami at home on March 6th before heading to the ACC tournament.