GONZAG

DUKE

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

AP
Nov 27, 2021

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.

''It's just a really big-time game, what a great crowd,'' said Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, who is in his final year at the helm of the Duke Blue Devils (7-0). ''We thought it might be a showcase game and it was. But having this type of crowd was amazing. Obviously, we feel great about the win, and we think we beat an outstanding basketball team.''

That's saying something, considering Gonzaga coach Mark Few shapes his program after Duke.

''We've always asked over the years before we've had to make decisions on anything -- how we travel, how we operate, how we schedule, facility-wise -- the first question always is, `What's Duke doing?''' Few said. ''I don't think I can pay any higher respect than that.''

Unfortunately for Few, his Bulldogs' best couldn't match the resilience of Krzyzewski's Blue Devils.

Gonzaga (6-1) battled back from a nine-point deficit thanks to Julian Strawther's offensive prowess early in the second half. He scored eight of the Bulldogs' first 14 points to help them get within two. But Gonzaga suffered through a 0-for-5 span down the stretch and turned the ball over three times to allow Duke to close the game on a 13-9 run.

''We felt like if we played our best and did what we do best, we were going to have a real shot for the win,'' Banchero said.

Wendell Moore Jr. scored 20 points and Mark Williams added 17 points and 9 rebounds for the Blue Devils.

Strawther led Gonzaga with a career-high 20 points and 10 rebounds, including shooting 57.1% from the floor in the second half. Drew Timme added 17 points, Chet Holmgren had 16 points and Rasir Bolton chipped in 15 for the Bulldogs.

''The beautiful thing is we all believe in each other,'' said Strawther, who registered his second career double-double. ''Even if I miss a couple of shots, they're going to keep looking for me. That's what really keeps me going. They showed a lot of belief in me after I missed a few.''

Gonzaga, however, had 17 total turnovers for the game.

The Bulldogs did claw their way back to a 53-52 lead, and the game quickly became a battle of Duke's relentless defensive pressure and Gonzaga's precise passing through lanes the Bulldogs created on the fly.

''It felt like a Final Four-type game,'' Timme said. ''The atmosphere was great and it was two Goliaths going at it.''

After Gonzaga took an early 4-0 lead, Duke quickly established dominance with a 17-6 run, with Banchero and Williams putting on a show for the heavily favored Duke crowd.

The Bulldogs closed the gap to three, 19-16, but Banchero scored 13 of Duke's next 21 points. Holmgren, who had to sit midway in the first half due to foul trouble, returned with 1:27 left in the half and drained a soft one-handed jumper followed by a 3-pointer by Strawther.

Duke held a 45-42 lead at halftime.

STAR-STUDDED SEATING

Among the record crowd: former boxing champion Floyd Mayweather, former Cy Young winner and World Series champion Orel Hershiser, PGA golfer Brooks Koepka, former NBA player Marcus Banks and sports agent Rich Paul.

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 retaking 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.

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More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25

1st Half
GONZ
Bulldogs
42
DUKE
Blue Devils
45

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Mark Williams vs. Chet Holmgren (Jeremy Roach gains possession)
19:42		Paolo Banchero misses two point layup
19:40		Julian Strawther defensive rebound
19:26		Andrew Nembhard misses two point jump shot
19:24		Mark Williams defensive rebound
19:13		Jeremy Roach misses two point jump shot
19:11		Julian Strawther defensive rebound
19:01		Trevor Keels shooting foul (Andrew Nembhard draws the foul)
19:01	+1	Andrew Nembhard makes regular free throw 1 of 2	1-0
19:01	+1	Andrew Nembhard makes regular free throw 2 of 2	2-0
18:50		Drew Timme shooting foul (Wendell Moore Jr. draws the foul)
18:50		Wendell Moore Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2
18:50		Wendell Moore Jr. misses regular free throw 2 of 2
18:50		Drew Timme defensive rebound
18:39	+2	Drew Timme makes two point layup (Rasir Bolton assists)	4-0
18:23	+2	Paolo Banchero makes two point jump shot	4-2
18:13		Mark Williams blocks Chet Holmgren's two point layup
18:11		Trevor Keels defensive rebound
18:05	+2	Mark Williams makes two point layup (Trevor Keels assists)	4-4
17:50	+2	Chet Holmgren makes two point layup (Andrew Nembhard assists)	6-4
17:30	+3	Trevor Keels makes three point jump shot (Wendell Moore Jr. assists)	6-7
17:15		Drew Timme misses three point jump shot
17:13		Wendell Moore Jr. defensive rebound
17:07	+2	Mark Williams makes two point alley-oop dunk (Trevor Keels assists)	6-9
16:58		Andrew Nembhard turnover (lost ball)
16:48		Trevor Keels turnover (traveling)
16:41		Rasir Bolton misses three point jump shot
16:39		Paolo Banchero defensive rebound
16:35		Chet Holmgren personal foul (Trevor Keels draws the foul)
16:22		Mark Williams misses three point jump shot
16:20		Andrew Nembhard defensive rebound
16:15	+2	Rasir Bolton makes two point layup (Andrew Nembhard assists)	8-9
16:08		Trevor Keels misses two point jump shot
16:06		Chet Holmgren defensive rebound
15:42		Julian Strawther misses three point jump shot
15:40		Jeremy Roach defensive rebound
15:39		Julian Strawther personal foul (Jeremy Roach draws the foul)
15:39		TV timeout
15:20	+2	Jeremy Roach makes two point layup	8-11
15:07		Chet Holmgren misses three point jump shot
15:05		Wendell Moore Jr. defensive rebound
14:58	+2	Wendell Moore Jr. makes two point layup	8-13
14:47	+2	Julian Strawther makes two point layup (Rasir Bolton assists)	10-13
14:13		Jeremy Roach misses two point jump shot
14:11		Theo John offensive rebound
14:08		Anton Watson shooting foul (Theo John draws the foul)
14:08		Theo John misses regular free throw 1 of 2
14:08	+1	Theo John makes regular free throw 2 of 2	10-14
13:48		Paolo Banchero personal foul (Chet Holmgren draws the foul)
13:42		Theo John personal foul (Anton Watson draws the foul)
13:30		Rasir Bolton misses three point jump shot
13:28		Andrew Nembhard offensive rebound
13:23		Julian Strawther misses three point jump shot
13:21		Wendell Moore Jr. defensive rebound
13:16	+3	Paolo Banchero makes three point jump shot (Wendell Moore Jr. assists)	10-17
13:00		Anton Watson turnover (lost ball) (Wendell Moore Jr. steals)
12:54		Wendell Moore Jr. misses two point dunk
12:52		Andrew Nembhard defensive rebound
12:46	+3	Rasir Bolton makes three point jump shot	13-17
12:23		Paolo Banchero misses two point jump shot
12:21		Julian Strawther defensive rebound
12:05		Andrew Nembhard turnover (lost ball) (Theo John steals)
11:58		Trevor Keels misses three point jump shot
11:56		Rasir Bolton defensive rebound
11:49		Jump ball. Rasir Bolton vs. AJ Griffin (Bulldogs gains possession)
11:49		TV timeout
11:47	+3	Rasir Bolton makes three point jump shot (Andrew Nembhard assists)	16-17
11:24		Anton Watson personal foul (Mark Williams draws the foul)
11:18		Chet Holmgren blocks Jeremy Roach's two point layup
11:16		Mark Williams offensive rebound
11:09		Paolo Banchero misses three point jump shot
11:07		Chet Holmgren defensive rebound
10:53		Andrew Nembhard misses three point jump shot
10:51		Trevor Keels defensive rebound
10:42		Hunter Sallis personal foul (Trevor Keels draws the foul)
10:40	+2	Paolo Banchero makes two point layup (Wendell Moore Jr. assists)	16-19
10:34		Mark Williams personal foul (Chet Holmgren draws the foul)
10:32	+2	Chet Holmgren makes two point dunk (Nolan Hickman assists)	18-19
10:23	+2	Paolo Banchero makes two point layup	18-21
10:23		Chet Holmgren shooting foul (Paolo Banchero draws the foul)
10:23	+1	Paolo Banchero makes regular free throw 1 of 1	18-22
9:58		Drew Timme misses two point layup
9:56		Paolo Banchero defensive rebound
9:51	+2	Mark Williams makes two point alley-oop dunk (Paolo Banchero assists)	18-24
9:34		Andrew Nembhard misses three point jump shot
9:32		Trevor Keels defensive rebound
9:26	+3	Paolo Banchero makes three point jump shot (Trevor Keels assists)	18-27
9:24		Bulldogs 30 second timeout
9:12	+2	Julian Strawther makes two point layup	20-27
8:53		Paolo Banchero misses three point jump shot
8:51		Andrew Nembhard defensive rebound
8:43		Drew Timme turnover (lost ball) (Mark Williams steals)
8:34		Andrew Nembhard personal foul (Jeremy Roach draws the foul)
8:34	+1	Jeremy Roach makes regular free throw 1 of 2	20-28
8:34	+1	Jeremy Roach makes regular free throw 2 of 2	20-29
8:25	+3	Rasir Bolton makes three point jump shot (Drew Timme assists)	23-29
8:09	+2	Paolo Banchero makes two point dunk	23-31
7:57	+2	Drew Timme makes two point layup	25-31
7:41		Theo John misses two point layup
7:39		Drew Timme defensive rebound
7:31	+2	Julian Strawther makes two point jump shot (Drew Timme assists)	27-31
7:14		Paolo Banchero misses three point jump shot
7:12		Rasir Bolton defensive rebound
7:08		Rasir Bolton turnover (bad pass) (Paolo Banchero steals)
6:51	+3	Paolo Banchero makes three point jump shot (Trevor Keels assists)	27-34
6:35		Theo John shooting foul (Drew Timme draws the foul)
6:35		TV timeout
6:35		Drew Timme misses regular free throw 1 of 2
6:35	+1	Drew Timme makes regular free throw 2 of 2	28-34
6:09	+2	Mark Williams makes two point dunk (Trevor Keels assists)	28-36
5:58		Mark Williams blocks Drew Timme's two point layup
5:56		Paolo Banchero defensive rebound
5:51		Joey Baker misses three point jump shot
5:49		Julian Strawther defensive rebound
5:41		Joey Baker personal foul (Drew Timme draws the foul)
5:31	+2	Drew Timme makes two point layup	30-36
5:17		Jeremy Roach misses three point jump shot
5:15		Rasir Bolton defensive rebound
5:08		Mark Williams blocks Rasir Bolton's two point layup
5:06		Anton Watson offensive rebound
4:59	+2	Andrew Nembhard makes two point layup (Drew Timme assists)	32-36
4:39		Paolo Banchero turnover (lost ball) (Andrew Nembhard steals)
4:30		Julian Strawther misses three point jump shot
4:28		Mark Williams defensive rebound
4:08		Jeremy Roach misses two point jump shot
4:06		Blue Devils offensive rebound
4:01	+2	Wendell Moore Jr. makes two point layup	32-38
3:53		Mark Williams blocks Julian Strawther's two point layup
3:51		Paolo Banchero defensive rebound
3:42	+2	Paolo Banchero makes two point jump shot	32-40
3:23	+2	Rasir Bolton makes two point layup (Anton Watson assists)	34-40
3:16		Blue Devils 30 second timeout
3:00	+2	Mark Williams makes two point hook shot (Paolo Banchero assists)	34-42
2:39		Mark Williams blocks Julian Strawther's two point layup
2:37		Julian Strawther offensive rebound
2:36		Paolo Banchero shooting foul (Julian Strawther draws the foul)
2:36	+1	Julian Strawther makes regular free throw 1 of 2	35-42
2:36		Julian Strawther misses regular free throw 2 of 2
2:36		Blue Devils defensive rebound
2:09		Andrew Nembhard shooting foul (Mark Williams draws the foul)
2:09		Mark Williams misses regular free throw 1 of 2
2:09	+1	Mark Williams makes regular free throw 2 of 2	35-43
2:01	+2	Drew Timme makes two point hook shot (Andrew Nembhard assists)	37-43
1:36		Jeremy Roach misses two point jump shot
1:34		Drew Timme defensive rebound
1:27		Drew Timme offensive foul (Mark Williams draws the foul)
1:27		Drew Timme turnover
1:14	+2	Trevor Keels makes two point jump shot	37-45
1:05	+2	Chet Holmgren makes two point jump shot	39-45
0:48		Trevor Keels misses two point jump shot
0:46		Andrew Nembhard defensive rebound
0:34	+3	Julian Strawther makes three point jump shot (Andrew Nembhard assists)	42-45
0:06		Jeremy Roach misses three point jump shot
0:04		Anton Watson defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
GONZ
Bulldogs
39
DUKE
Blue Devils
39

Time		Play	Score
19:49		Chet Holmgren blocks Paolo Banchero's two point layup
19:47		Rasir Bolton defensive rebound
19:35		Drew Timme offensive foul (Mark Williams draws the foul)
19:35		Drew Timme turnover
19:26	+2	Mark Williams makes two point dunk (Wendell Moore Jr. assists)	42-47
19:15		Drew Timme misses two point layup
19:13		Julian Strawther offensive rebound
19:06	+2	Julian Strawther makes two point layup	44-47
18:58		Trevor Keels misses three point jump shot
18:56		Andrew Nembhard defensive rebound
18:45	+3	Julian Strawther makes three point jump shot (Drew Timme assists)	47-47
18:12	+3	Wendell Moore Jr. makes three point jump shot (Jeremy Roach assists)	47-50
18:01		Mark Williams personal foul (Drew Timme draws the foul)
18:00	+2	Drew Timme makes two point layup (Andrew Nembhard assists)	49-50
17:40	+2	Wendell Moore Jr. makes two point layup	49-52
17:29	+2	Drew Timme makes two point layup (Andrew Nembhard assists)	51-52
17:10		Trevor Keels misses two point layup
17:08		Drew Timme defensive rebound
16:58		Mark Williams shooting foul (Drew Timme draws the foul)
16:58	+1	Drew Timme makes regular free throw 1 of 2	52-52
16:58	+1	Drew Timme makes regular free throw 2 of 2	53-52
16:49		Paolo Banchero misses three point jump shot
16:47		Bulldogs defensive rebound
16:47		Theo John personal foul (Drew Timme draws the foul)
16:32		Drew Timme turnover (bad pass) (Wendell Moore Jr. steals)
16:17	+2	Wendell Moore Jr. makes two point layup	53-54
16:04		Rasir Bolton misses two point jump shot
16:02		Trevor Keels defensive rebound
15:43	+2	Theo John makes two point turnaround jump shot	53-56
15:34		Chet Holmgren turnover (bad pass) (Wendell Moore Jr. steals)
15:10	+2	Theo John makes two point layup (Trevor Keels assists)	53-58
15:02	+3	Julian Strawther makes three point jump shot (Andrew Nembhard assists)	56-58
14:33		Jeremy Roach misses three point jump shot
14:31		Julian Strawther defensive rebound
14:18		Chet Holmgren misses two point jump shot
14:16		Chet Holmgren offensive rebound
14:12	+2	Chet Holmgren makes two point layup	58-58
14:12		Blue Devils 30 second timeout
14:12		TV timeout
14:01		Jeremy Roach misses two point layup
13:59		Chet Holmgren defensive rebound
13:51		TV timeout
13:45	+2	Anton Watson makes two point dunk (Andrew Nembhard assists)	60-58
13:19		Trevor Keels turnover (lost ball) (Andrew Nembhard steals)
13:14		Chet Holmgren misses three point jump shot
13:12		Joey Baker defensive rebound
13:03		Wendell Moore Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Andrew Nembhard steals)
12:55		Andrew Nembhard turnover (lost ball) (Joey Baker steals)
12:44	+3	Joey Baker makes three point jump shot	60-61
12:39		Rasir Bolton misses three point jump shot
12:37		Julian Strawther offensive rebound
12:34		Julian Strawther misses two point layup
12:32		Theo John defensive rebound
12:30		Anton Watson blocks Trevor Keels's two point layup
12:28		Julian Strawther defensive rebound
12:22	+2	Andrew Nembhard makes two point layup	62-61
11:57		Chet Holmgren blocks AJ Griffin's two point layup
11:55		Andrew Nembhard defensive rebound
11:50	+2	Julian Strawther makes two point jump shot (Andrew Nembhard assists)	64-61
11:26		Joey Baker turnover (lost ball) (Julian Strawther steals)
11:24		Wendell Moore Jr. personal foul
11:24		TV timeout
11:10		Drew Timme turnover (lost ball) (Joey Baker steals)
11:09		Julian Strawther personal foul (Joey Baker draws the foul)
10:48		Wendell Moore Jr. misses two point jump shot
10:46		Nolan Hickman defensive rebound
10:39		Trevor Keels personal foul (Andrew Nembhard draws the foul)
10:27		Anton Watson turnover (out of bounds)
10:13		Drew Timme personal foul (Trevor Keels draws the foul)
10:12	+2	Mark Williams makes two point layup (Wendell Moore Jr. assists)	64-63
10:00		Julian Strawther misses two point layup
9:58		Mark Williams defensive rebound
9:50	+3	Joey Baker makes three point jump shot (Wendell Moore Jr. assists)	64-66
9:38	+2	Anton Watson makes two point layup (Julian Strawther assists)	66-66
9:23		Trevor Keels misses three point jump shot
9:21		Nolan Hickman defensive rebound
9:11	+2	Chet Holmgren makes two point jump shot	68-66
8:47		Trevor Keels turnover (lost ball) (Andrew Nembhard steals)
8:41	+2	Nolan Hickman makes two point layup (Andrew Nembhard assists)	70-66
8:25		Anton Watson personal foul (Jeremy Roach draws the foul)
8:25		Blue Devils 30 second timeout
8:25		TV timeout
8:19	+2	Wendell Moore Jr. makes two point jump shot	70-68
7:47		Julian Strawther misses three point jump shot
7:45		Wendell Moore Jr. defensive rebound
7:40		Anton Watson personal foul (Paolo Banchero draws the foul)
7:22		Wendell Moore Jr. offensive foul (Anton Watson draws the foul)
7:22		Wendell Moore Jr. turnover
7:12		Andrew Nembhard turnover (traveling)
6:53		Wendell Moore Jr. turnover (lost ball)
6:37		Chet Holmgren misses three point jump shot
6:35		Wendell Moore Jr. defensive rebound
6:19		Trevor Keels misses two point layup
6:17		Mark Williams offensive rebound
6:07		Paolo Banchero misses two point layup
6:05		Paolo Banchero offensive rebound
6:07		Julian Strawther shooting foul (Paolo Banchero draws the foul)
6:07	+1	Paolo Banchero makes regular free throw 1 of 2	70-69
6:07		Paolo Banchero misses regular free throw 2 of 2
6:07		Chet Holmgren defensive rebound
6:02	+2	Chet Holmgren makes two point dunk (Anton Watson assists)	72-69
5:40		Julian Strawther personal foul (Trevor Keels draws the foul)
5:40		Trevor Keels misses regular free throw 1 of 1
5:40		Andrew Nembhard defensive rebound
5:40		Andrew Nembhard turnover (Trevor Keels steals)
5:22		Wendell Moore Jr. misses two point layup
5:20		Mark Williams offensive rebound
5:18	+2	Mark Williams makes two point layup	72-71
5:08		Mark Williams shooting foul (Anton Watson draws the foul)
5:08		Anton Watson misses regular free throw 1 of 2
5:08	+1	Anton Watson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	73-71
4:46		Paolo Banchero misses three point jump shot
4:44		Jeremy Roach offensive rebound
4:36	+2	Jeremy Roach makes two point layup	73-73
4:30		Chet Holmgren turnover (Wendell Moore Jr. steals)
4:30		Chet Holmgren shooting foul (Wendell Moore Jr. draws the foul)
4:30	+1	Wendell Moore Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2	73-74
4:30	+1	Wendell Moore Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2	73-75
4:14		Andrew Nembhard misses two point jump shot
4:12		Wendell Moore Jr. defensive rebound
4:05		Jeremy Roach misses three point jump shot
4:03		Hunter Sallis defensive rebound
3:50		Drew Timme misses two point jump shot
3:48		Mark Williams defensive rebound
3:44		Rasir Bolton personal foul (Trevor Keels draws the foul)
3:44		TV timeout
3:44		Trevor Keels misses regular free throw 1 of 1
3:44		Julian Strawther defensive rebound
3:38		Trevor Keels personal foul (Andrew Nembhard draws the foul)
3:38		Andrew Nembhard misses regular free throw 1 of 1
3:38		Mark Williams defensive rebound
3:24		Trevor Keels misses three point jump shot
3:22		Rasir Bolton defensive rebound
2:53		Andrew Nembhard misses three point jump shot
2:51		Chet Holmgren offensive rebound
2:44		Chet Holmgren turnover (traveling)
2:26		Wendell Moore Jr. misses three point jump shot
2:24		Rasir Bolton defensive rebound
2:16		Andrew Nembhard turnover (bad pass) (Mark Williams steals)
1:49		Rasir Bolton shooting foul (Trevor Keels draws the foul)
1:49		Bulldogs 30 second timeout
1:51		Trevor Keels misses regular free throw 1 of 2
1:51	+1	Trevor Keels makes regular free throw 2 of 2	73-76
1:36	+2	Drew Timme makes two point layup	75-76
1:12		Rasir Bolton personal foul (Wendell Moore Jr. draws the foul)
1:12	+1	Wendell Moore Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2	75-77
1:12	+1	Wendell Moore Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2	75-78
1:02	+2	Chet Holmgren makes two point dunk (Drew Timme assists)	77-78
0:48	+2	Jeremy Roach makes two point layup	77-80
0:47		Bulldogs 30 second timeout
0:35		Drew Timme misses two point layup
0:33		Mark Williams defensive rebound
0:29		Andrew Nembhard personal foul (Wendell Moore Jr. draws the foul)
0:29	+1	Wendell Moore Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2	77-81
0:29	+1	Wendell Moore Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2	77-82
0:21	+2	Rasir Bolton makes two point layup	79-82
0:19		Bulldogs 30 second timeout
0:19		Hunter Sallis personal foul (Wendell Moore Jr. draws the foul)
0:19		Wendell Moore Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:19	+1	Wendell Moore Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2	79-83
0:19		Blue Devils 30 second timeout
0:04		Rasir Bolton misses three point jump shot
0:02		Chet Holmgren offensive rebound
0:01	+2	Chet Holmgren makes two point dunk	81-83
0:01		Julian Strawther personal foul (Jeremy Roach draws the foul)
0:01	+1	Jeremy Roach makes regular free throw 1 of 2	81-84
0:01		Jeremy Roach misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:01		Drew Timme defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

Drew Timme defensive rebound