Saturday ACC Hoops: Duke Holds Off Miami, Kelly Returns And Promptly Blows Up For 36

A RARE MISS (Chuck Liddy/Raleigh News & Observer)

#3 DUKE 79, #5 MIAMI 76 - Duke's Ryan Kelly sure didn't look like a guy who hadn't played in two months.  Maybe two months from now, the Canes will actually try guarding him...

The senior scored a career-high 36 points in his return from a foot injury that had sidelined him since January, sinking wide open outside shots like it was the pre-game shoot around. Even Dick Vitale suggested Miami might want to guard the sharp shooter all over the court.

Kelly knocked down 10 of 14 shots - including 7 of 9 three -pointers- for the Blue Devils (25-4, 12-4 ACC), who avenged a blowout road loss in January by grinding out a tough win.

Quinn Cook added 15 points as Duke built a 10-point lead with about 2 minutes left then held off a frantic rally by Miami.

The Canes (23-5, 14-2) were led by Shane Larkin who had 25 points. 

Recap. 

MARYLAND 67, WAKE FOREST 57 - Dez Wells scored a game-high 23 points and Maryland got its 20th win of the season by beating Wake Forest 67-57 Saturday afternoon at Joel Coliseum.

The Terps (20-9, 8-8 ACC) used an 8-0 run midway through the second half to take the lead for good in a game that saw 14 lead changes. Behind Wells, who went 11-of-12 from the field and finished two points shy of his career high, Maryland shot 47.5 percent while holding Wake Forest to 32.7 percent.

Maryland built a 30-24 halftime lead by finishing on a 10-2 run, sparked by a pair of 3-pointers by Logan Aronhalt. He and Nick Faust added nine points, with Wells the only Terp in double figures.

Recap. 

(HokieSports.com)

VIRGINIA TECH 69, CLEMSON 61 - Playing in his final home game, Virginia Tech guard Erick Green scored 29 points and the Hokies held off Clemson 69-61 in an ACC game played Saturday night at Cassell Coliseum.

The win marked the second in the past three games for the Hokies, who moved to 13-16 overall and 4-12 in the ACC. 

Tech avenged a late January loss to the Tigers, who fell to 13-15, 5-11 in league play.

Green scored 17 points in the first half, with 9 of those coming on a 20-8 half-ending run that gave the Hokies a 36-25 lead. Tech then took a 15-point lead in the second half on two free throws by Green with 17:26 remaining and appeared to be in control.

Recap.