Duke vs. Virginia Tech: Score and Twitter Reaction from 2015 Regular Season

There was legitimate talk about whether Duke should rest banged-up superstar Jahlil Okafor for Wednesday's game against Virginia Tech because the Blue Devils would steamroll the Hokies with or without him.

So much for that.

Duke needed every one of the big man's career-high 30 points in its 91-86 overtime victory over Virginia Tech. It was a much closer game than the Blue Devils were looking for against a squad that is now 2-13 in the ACC, but the Hokies connected on 12 three-pointers and generally shot the lights out throughout the game (53 percent from the field, 54.5 percent from three-point range and 80 percent from the line).

Okafor led the way with his 30 points and nine rebounds, but Quinn Cook hit the most important shot of the game in overtime to put Duke up four and ended up with 26 critical points of his own. Justise Winslow added 15 points and some of the only defense of the game.

Grant Halverson/Getty Images

Jalen Hudson spearheaded the Virginia Tech attack off the bench with 23 points, which was far above his 5.8 points-per-game average.

Laura Keeley of the Raleigh News & Observer and the Charlotte Observer pointed out a lineup change for the Blue Devils before the game as a response to Virginia Tech's smaller group:

The Blue Devils seized the early lead with that new, athletic lineup and forced three early Virginia Tech turnovers by the first media timeout. Duke Basketball (from The Chronicle) noted that the pressure defense came through in those opening minutes:

Duke opened up a six-point lead in the first 10 minutes of the half behind that defense and solid play from Okafor and Winslow. Sam Vecenie of CBS Sports passed along an impressive play from Okafor, while Stephen Wiseman of The Durham Herald-Sun praised Winslow's efforts on both ends:

"

Okafor basically gave em the #ChildPlease RT @NBA_Spen: This move by Okafor is so special #UpsideMotor #CBB #Duke https://t.co/IPbfPS32Wf

— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) February 26, 2015"

However, Virginia Tech closed the gap behind an unexpected source in Hudson, as Mark Berman of The Roanoke Times pointed out:

While the Hokies hung around in the first half, Duke's Cook set some school history, via Duke M. Basketball:

"

.@QCook323 with a 3pt FG for 38th consecutive game. New Duke record.

— Duke M. Basketball (@Duke_MBB) February 26, 2015"

After Cook's three, Virginia Tech got red-hot from the field and actually took the 39-37 lead into intermission. Wiseman and Keeley both acknowledged the Hokies' incredible offensive production:

It was clear Virginia Tech coach Buzz Williams had his team ready to play, and he stressed how difficult the game would be, via Keeley: 

“We’ve got to figure out which is the best poison for us to swallow. It’s not only Tyus (Jones), but it’s the rest of those guys. It’s not just Jahlil, it’s not just Quinn Cook. All of those guys are going to put an extreme amount of stress on us both offensively and defensively.”

Mike Barber of the Richmond Times-Dispatch pointed out that the Hokies picked up right where they left off after halftime, and Adam Rowe of 247Sports said what every Duke fan was probably thinking:

Keeley noted that one player in particular was keeping the Blue Devils in the game: 

Duke responded by switching to a zone defense in the middle of the second half, and the Hokies responded by hitting two threes in a four-possession stretch. However, the Blue Devils continued to answer on the offensive end and found themselves only down 57-53 with just less than 12 minutes remaining.

Considering the offensive display that the Hokies were putting on, the fact that it was only four points had to make their fans nervous.

Right on cue, the Blue Devils responded to take the lead as soon as Virginia Tech went cold for a spell. Wiseman described the run:

The lead didn't last long, as Virginia Tech drilled two consecutive threes to grab the lead back at 66-64. Naturally, Cook responded with a three-pointer of his own to give Duke the 67-66 lead with just under eight minutes remaining and prompted this response from Rob Dauster of NBC Sports:

Even with Cook's hot shooting and Okafor's production down low, Duke was having trouble stopping Virginia Tech on the other end. Shane Ryan of TobaccoRoadRules.com lamented the Blue Devils defense:

"

The trick to beating Duke is challenging us to run-and-gun, and hoping to get hot. Because we will never say no.

— Shane Ryan (@ShaneRyanHere) February 26, 2015"

"

Virginia Tech’s ACC season high is 70…until now. Still six minutes left!

— Shane Ryan (@ShaneRyanHere) February 26, 2015"

In this defense-optional game, the two offenses continued to trade baskets deep into the second half, but the Hokies drilled another monumental three from the corner with four minutes remaining to open up a 75-71 lead. 

Jeff Borzello and Jay Williams of ESPN highlighted two of the problems for Duke:

Defensive struggles or not, Okafor scored in the paint a few possessions later to tie the game at 75. It set the stage for a dramatic finish with two minutes remaining. Much to the chagrin of the crowd, Tyus Jones made one of the biggest plays of the game when he drew a close charge in the final minutes, as Barber pointed out:

Duke responded with a critical basket on the other end to grab a 77-75 lead with a minute remaining. As if there was any doubt how Virginia Tech would respond, Justin Bibbs drilled a critical mid-range jumper to tie the score at 77 with 44 seconds left.

Rather than go two-for-one, Duke chose to take its time on the ensuing possession, but Okafor drew the foul on the low block. Again, the crowd did not like the call, but Okafor missed both free throws, and Duke committed a foul on the loose ball.

Safe to say, the crowd agreed with that whistle. 

Ryan pointed out the obvious considering Okafor's struggles from the free-throw line:

"

Why would go to Okafor there? You know they’re just going to foul.

— Shane Ryan (@ShaneRyanHere) February 26, 2015"

On the final possession, Hudson took the ball right to the rim but missed the short shot, and the game went to overtime tied at 77. Rowe was spot-on with his analysis:

The Hokies hit an early three in overtime, but Duke responded by pounding it down low to Okafor. He put the Blue Devils up 81-80 and set a career high in the process, via Rowe; Vecenie was also impressed:

"

Jahlil Okafor is so beyond is absurd. Game-time decision and the guy drops 30. That’s not normal.

— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) February 26, 2015"

Winslow extended the lead to 83-80, but he fouled out on the ensuing defensive possession. Hudson drilled both free throws to cut the deficit to 83-82, but Cook made the latest in his streak of big shots from the corner three to give Duke an 86-82 lead.

It was a back-breaking shot, and two defensive stops on the next two Virginia Tech possessions and some crucial Cook free throws all but put the game away. 

The Blue Devils escaped, 91-86.

What's Next? 

Gerry Broome/Associated Press

Duke returns home Saturday for a showdown with Syracuse.

Last year's clash against the Orange in Cameron Indoor Stadium will always be remembered for Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim ripping off his jacket down the stretch in protest of an official's call. Blue Devils fans would probably prefer it to not be as close this time around, but they would settle for a victory either way on the road to a potential No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.

Virginia Tech travels to Virginia Saturday to take on the No. 2 team in the nation. The Hokies aren't heading to the NCAA tournament this season (barring a stunning conference tournament win), so an upset of their in-state rivals would make them feel a lot better about the disappointing 2014-15 campaign.