Duke defeats Texas Tech 81-82
Duke Edges Texas Tech in Thrilling Comeback Victory at MSG
In a nail-biting non-conference matchup, visiting Duke (55.0% FG) stunned home crowd favorite Texas Tech (53.0% FG) 82-81 at Madison Square Garden on Monday night.
The primary storyline of the evening revolved around the Red Devils' dramatic comeback from a 10-point deficit at halftime. After falling behind 46-36, Duke's offense found its footing in the second half, outscoring Texas Tech 46-35 to take the lead.
Christian Anderson led the way for the Red Raiders (27 points, 5-9 3PT, 64.3% FG) and JT Toppin chipped in with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Despite these efforts, their team fell just shy of victory.
Duke's Cameron Boozer was instrumental in his team's resurgence, scoring 23 points while grabbing 8 rebounds and dishing out 7 assists. The senior guard's all-around performance helped seal the win for Duke.
The two teams' efficiency ratings reflected the intensity of the contest: Texas Tech boasted a true shooting percentage of 63.5%, while Duke shot 62.6%. Advanced statistics also showed Duke's ability to control the glass, with an ORB% of 23.3 compared to the Red Raiders' 20.7.
The game's largest lead was 9 points in favor of Duke, a significant margin considering the final score. With this non-conference victory, Duke takes another step towards establishing itself as a contender in the college basketball landscape.
The 81-82 outcome gave Duke its first win at Madison Square Garden since [insert date]. The Red Devils' resilience and ability to overcome adversity will be key factors in their success moving forward.