DURHAM, N.C. -- In its first Atlantic Coast Conference game of the season, the Virginia Tech men's basketball team lost to No. 5 Duke 69-44 in Durham, N.C. on Sunday night.
In a game in which the Hokies had eighteen defensive rebounds, six blocks and seven steals, Tech only shot 36 percent from the field and 58 percent from the free throw line in the hostile environment of the Blue Devils' Cameron Indoor Stadium.
"Defensively, at times, I thought we were good," said head coach Seth Greenberg. "Offensively, we were inept at best. That's probably a compliment, actually."
The Blue Devils (12-1, 1-0 ACC) went on a 11-0 run to start the game, but the Hokies clawed their way back to within six points with 8:30 to play in the first half. Tech managed to stay within eight points of the Blue Devils at the intermission.
"Eventually, we were going to score," said Greenberg of the minor first half scoring run. "This is a game in which you don't run plays, you make plays."
The second half told a very different story. Shooting 33 percent from the field in the second half, the Hokies tallied only 13 points in comparison to the Blue Devils' 31. An 11-point lead became a 20-point lead in less than four minutes as a three pointer by heralded Blue Devil guard Greg Paulus began a 12-3 Duke run with 11:12 to go.
Duke never looked back as a layup by sophomore forward J.T. Thompson was the only field goal for the Hokies in the last 8:30 of play.
The Hokies shot 1-for-9 from beyond the arc with senior forward A.D. Vassallo shooting 1-for-4 and sophomore guard Malcolm Delaney missing all three of his attempts.
"I have no problem with those guys who shot the threes," Greenberg said. "I've got to believe Vassallo and Delaney are guys who can make shots. If they've got the room and the rhythm, I want them to take those shots."
Delaney led the team in points with twelve. Sophomore forward Jeff Allen contributed with nine points and a team-high five rebounds
In his third game since losing his starting job to freshman Victor Davila, senior forward Cheick Diakite also had five rebounds to go with eight points and three blocks in twenty minutes.
"Cheick was playing well," Greenberg said. "He was protecting the rim, giving us some physical presence, and playing hard. He earned that playing time."
Duke outrebounded the Hokies 38-28 in the game. Forward Kyle Singler led the Blue Devils with 19 points and eight rebounds. Forward Gerald Henderson also had eight rebounds and fifteen points.
The Blue Devils also shot 95 percent from the line, hitting 19 of the 20 foul shots they took off of the Hokies' 18 personal fouls.
The Hokies, now 9-5 and 0-1 in conference on the season, continue ACC play as they return home to host in-state rival Virginia on Saturday.