College Basketball Roundup: Virginia Tech snaps 7-game slide in win over Duke

NC Central lost for the first time at home this season

Virginia Tech's Grant Basile defends against Duke's Mark Mitchell during the Hokies' win Monday in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Matt Gentry / The Roanoke Times via AP)

BLACKSBURG, Va. — Grant Basile scored 15 of his 24 points in the second half, Sean Pedulla had 16 points and five assists and Virginia Tech beat Duke 78-75 on Monday night to snap a seven-game losing streak.

Virginia Tech (12-8, 2-7 ACC) hadn’t won since topping Grambling on Dec. 17. The Hokies are now 5-1 in their last six matchups with Duke at Cassell Coliseum.

After a timeout with 35.3 seconds remaining, Virginia Tech dribbled down the clock before Michael Collins Jr. made a jumper from the free-throw line for a 77-75 lead. Duke’s Tyrese Proctor was short on an open 3-pointer and Collins was fouled. Collins made 1 of 2 at the line with 3.9 seconds to cap the scoring.

Duke attempted a half-court pass, but Virginia Tech guard Hunter Cattoor intercepted it and ran out the clock.

Cattoor finished with 15 points, on five 3-pointers, and two steals for Virginia Tech. Collins had six points.

Kyle Filipowski scored a career-high 29 and recorded his 10th double-double this season with 10 rebounds for Duke (14-6, 5-4). Proctor and Dariq Whitehead added 10 points apiece. Whitehead missed most of the second half with an apparent leg injury and was on crutches at the end of the game with a wrap around his lower left leg.

Duke went four-plus minutes without a field goal late in the second half, making just two of its final 10 shots. Proctor drained a 3-pointer with 38.9 seconds left, snapping a string of six misses from distance for Duke, to tie it at 75-all.

Duke plays at Georgia Tech on Saturday.

Maryland-Eastern Shore 59, NC Central 58

DURHAM — Zion Styles and Donchevell Nugent scored 13 points apiece and Maryland-Eastern Shore scored the final eight points to beat North Carolina Central 59-58 on Monday night.

The Hawks (11-8, 4-1 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) trailed 58-51 when Styles buried a 3-pointer with 40 seconds left. Nathanial Pollard Jr. grabbed an offensive rebound and scored with 28 seconds left to get UMES within two. Da’Shawn Miller gave the Hawks the lead for good on a three-point play six seconds later.

Pollard finished with nine points and nine rebounds.

Justin Wright finished with 19 points for the Eagles (10-9, 3-2), who lost at home for the first time this season. Brendan Medley-Bacon added 11 points and seven rebounds. Eric Boone totaled nine points, 13 rebounds, six assists, three steals and two blocks.

North Carolina Central visits Howard on Saturday.