BLACKSBURG, Va. (Interstat) — In a game defined more by rugged defense and interior dominance than offensive fireworks, the Duke Blue Devils methodically dispatched the Virginia Tech Hokies 72-58 in an Atlantic Coast Conference men’s basketball game Saturday afternoon at a sold-out Cassell Coliseum.

The victory, Duke’s 11th consecutive win, improved the Blue Devils to 20-1 overall. Virginia Tech fell to 16-7.

The most important part of the game was Duke’s suffocating defensive effort and its overwhelming advantage in the paint, which allowed the Blue Devils to build and maintain a comfortable lead despite an uncharacteristically cold shooting afternoon from the perimeter. Duke held Virginia Tech to just 41.8% shooting from the field and a paltry offensive rating of 96.9 points per 100 possessions. The Hokies, who entered the contest averaging over 78 points per game, were held 20 points below that average and never led.

Duke’s offense, while not at its peak efficiency from deep, found relentless success closer to the basket. The Blue Devils outscored Virginia Tech 46-24 in the paint, a decisive 22-point margin that underscored the game’s physical tone. Duke shot 31 for 59 overall but connected on only 5 of 21 attempts from three-point range. Virginia Tech was similarly challenged from deep, making 7 of 26.

The game’s pivotal stretch came early in the second half. Leading 40-31 at halftime, Duke saw its advantage trimmed to five points after Virginia Tech’s Amani Hansberry scored inside to make it 42-37 with just over 17 minutes remaining. The Hokies had momentum and a raucous home crowd behind them.

Duke responded with the poise of a championship contender. Over the next four minutes, the Blue Devils engineered a 10-2 run that effectively sealed the outcome. The run was fueled by the inside presence of Cameron Boozer and Maliq Brown. Boozer assisted on a Brown dunk, then later found Brown for another layup. Brown then drew a foul and made a free throw, and Boozer capped the surge with a putback layup of his own miss, pushing the Duke lead to 52-39 with 13 minutes to play. Virginia Tech would never get within single digits again.

Cameron Boozer, the sophomore star from Miami, was the game’s standout performer. He finished with 24 points, eight rebounds and five assists in 37 minutes, consistently making plays at critical junctures. His versatility was on full display, scoring on post moves, putbacks, and even stepping out to hit a crucial three-pointer late in the second half to stifle any lingering Hokie hopes. He also went a perfect 5 for 5 from the free-throw line.

Duke received balanced support. Patrick Ngongba of Manassas, Virginia, provided strong minutes with nine points, five rebounds and two blocks. Caleb Foster added seven points, seven rebounds and four assists, while Maliq Brown chipped in 11 efficient points off the bench.

Virginia Tech was led by Amani Hansberry, who scored 20 points. Ben Hammond logged 40 minutes and contributed 11 points and five rebounds, and Jailen Bedford added 12 points. However, the Hokies struggled to find consistent offense outside of Hansberry, and their 10 turnovers led to only nine points for Duke, a testament to the Blue Devils’ half-court defensive structure.

The game’s tempo was controlled by Duke from the opening tip, which was won by Ngongba. While both teams finished with an identical 60 possessions, Duke’s offensive rating of 119.4 far outpaced Virginia Tech’s, highlighting the quality of the Blue Devils’ shots, primarily from high-percentage areas.

The victory sets up a massive week for Duke, which hosts Boston College on Tuesday before traveling to face archrival North Carolina next Saturday. Virginia Tech looks to regroup on the road at North Carolina State next Saturday.

The announced attendance was 8,925.