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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) -- Duke has won plenty of games in Cameron
Indoor Stadium on talent alone. One other element was added in the
Blue Devils' 92-88 overtime victory against North Carolina State on Wednesday night.
"Guts," senior Chris Carrawell said when asked for the key to the heart-stopping, record-tying victory. "We really fought. That
was important for us."
|  | | Duke's Carlos Boozer, left, and Shane Battier team up to swat a shot by N.C. State's Damon Thornton. |
No player fought harder than Carrawell, who scored a career-high 30 points, playing all 45 minutes as Duke (No. 6 ESPN/USA Today, No. 5 AP) matched the Atlantic Coast Conference record for consecutive regular season wins at 27.
The Blue Devils (14-2, 5-0) tied the mark set by N.C. State from 1972-75.
"Anytime you can win 27 in a row in this great league it says
you're playing hard all the time, 110 percent every time you step
out on the court," Carrawell said.
Duke will have a chance to set the record at Wake Forest on Saturday.
Carrawell, whose previous high was 28 points in the season
opener against Stanford, had five in the overtime, while freshman
Carlos Boozer had six of his 24 in the extra five minutes.
Ron Kelley matched his season high with 17 points to lead the Wolfpack (12-3, 3-2).
"For the most part, we played with excellent composure," N.C. State coach Herb Sendek said.
Duke won its 44th straight game in Cameron and 14th straight overall since losing its first two of the season. But its mastery
over the ACC didn't come without a major scare on this night.
Duke seemingly had the game won, up by five points with 9.6 seconds left, only to see the Wolfpack stage a miraculous comeback.
"To be able to recover from situations like that is a sign of
outstanding kids, and my kids really responded," Duke coach Mike
Krzyzewski said. "That's one of the better things I've seen any of
my teams do. They did it, I didn't do it.
"It's an emotional downer when you feel like you had the game won, but we played so magnificently in the overtime."
N.C. State trailed by one with a chance to win the game in
regulation, but all but handed the Blue Devils the victory when
Justin Gainey fell to the floor with the ball and called a timeout
when his team had none. Duke made two free throws on the technical
and two on the ensuing possession.
But after a layup by Marshall Williams and a turnover by Duke point guard Jason Williams with 2.8 seconds left in regulation,
Shane Battier fouled Gainey from 3-point range with 0.8 seconds
left.
The senior point guard made the first one, missed the second, then missed the third on purpose, allowing Williams time to put
back the shot for a 79-79 tie at the buzzer.
Television relays appeared to show the red light was on,
signaling no time left before the shot left Williams' hand.
Krzyzewski said he believed the shot should not have counted.
"When I saw the ball go low I thought the game was over," he said. "I thought they were just going to try to tap it. Faster
than the speed of sound, I guess."
Two free throws by Williams gave N.C. State its only lead of the overtime. Over the next two minutes, Carrawell scored on a layup and Boozer had a dunk and a shot in the lane to secure the win,
Duke's 11th in the last 12 tries against the Wolfpack.
Duke, the top 3-point shooting team in the ACC, was held to
2-for-14 from long range by N.C. State's ball-hawking defense.
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ALSO SEE
Mens College Basketball Scoreboard
North Carolina State Clubhouse
Duke Clubhouse
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Jason Williams penetrates and dishes to Carlos Boozer.
avi: 554 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Marshall Williams' putback at the buzzer sends the game into OT.
avi: 951 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Nate James picks up the steal and takes it to the hole.
avi: 785 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
N.C. State's Damon Thornton works the offensive boards.
avi: 757 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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