College Basketball Roundup : Duke Puts a Bad Spell Behind It With a 100-83 Win Over Clemson

Duke probably didn’t save its No. 5 ranking Saturday, but it may have saved itself from a complete collapse.

The Blue Devils, who had lost three of their last four games, got themselves back on track with a 100-83 victory over Clemson in an Atlantic Coast Conference game at Clemson, S.C.

“I was really concerned about our confidence, although we had two really good days of practice and the kids worked hard,” Coach Mike Kryzewski said.

Clemson plays a different style, it’s so quick. We were very concerned about them. I thought their aggressive and positive style of bringing the ball down the court really put them in a good position until about the middle of the second half.

“It was a very tight game. The score is misleading.”

Mark Alarie scored 21 points and had nine rebounds to lead the Blue Devils (14-3, 4-3). Reserve forward David Henderson added 19 points and guards Johnny Dawkins and Tommy Amaker had 18 each.

Chris Michael scored 22 for Clemson (10-7, 2-5).

Duke led, 49-47 at the half and went up by nine points early in the second half. But Clemson rallied to take the lead, 69-68, on two baskets by Michael with 11:29 to play.

Dawkins hit a basket to put the Blue Devils ahead, 70-69, and after the score was tied twice, Dawkins put Duke ahead for good, 74-72, with 9:54 to play.

The Blue Devils, who made 32 free throws, went to the foul line and stretched the lead to93-80 with 2:20 left.

West Virginia 61, Temple 57--Freshman Holman Harley scored 18 points as the Mountaineers (11-6, 7-1) broke Temple’s 27-game regular-season Atlantic 10 winning streak and grabbed a share of first place by turning back the Owls z913-3, 7-1) at Morgantown, W. Va.

Louisville 84, N.C. State 78--Jeff Hall scored 22 points as the Cardinals broke out of a slump by holding off the Wolfpack at Louisville, Ky.

The Cardinals (10-8), who haven’t lost five-straight games in 41 years, broke a four game losing streak. Lorenzo Charles had 27 points for the Wolfpack (11-6).