Dukies too much for UVa., 86-70

Listen to “The SportsDominion Show” for a postgame wrap featuring interviews with Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski and UVa. coach Dave Leitao. Show Length: 20:04.

Virginia came out like a team primed for an upset. Duke was primed for something else.

The sixth-ranked Dukies held UVa. scoreless for a six-minute stretch of the first half to break open a close game, then held off a pair of second-half rallies en route to posting an easy 86-70 win in the John Paul Jones Arena Wednesday night.

There were actually 11 first-half lead changes before the extended 15-0 run that gave Duke (26-3, 13-2) control.

The Duke lead was 43-31 at the half, and it was 61-43 after a long three by Gerald Henderson with 15:04 to go before Virginia (14-14, 4-11 ACC) went on a 14-5 run to cut the margin to nine at the 10:39 mark.

The Blue Devils reasserted control by controlling the offensive boards – getting nine second-chance points in a 15-7 scoring run over the next six minutes that put the game effectively out of reach.

Henderson led five Duke players in double figures with 19 points.

Sean Singletary led a quartet of Cavaliers in double figures with 18 points.