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BOX SCORE
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- Growing up in the Midwest, Chris Carrawell dreamed of not playing in the Big Ten but of winning an Atlantic Coast Conference championship. Now, the Duke senior has four titles.
Carrawell scored 22 points, including several key baskets down
the stretch, as No. 3 Duke clinched at least a share of a fourth
straight ACC crown with a 71-66 win over North Carolina State on
Saturday.
|  | | Duke's Chris Carrawell secures one of his six rebounds over the Wolfpack's Anthony Grundy. |
"Coming from St. Louis, I never would have imagined winning
four straight titles in the ACC," said Carrawell, who added six
rebounds and five assists. "When I go home all the guys will ask
me how the ACC is and I will keep telling them its the best
basketball in the country.
"For me to be a winner in this league, I am proud of that."
The Blue Devils (21-3, 12-1 ACC) were held to 19 points below
their scoring average. Duke also had to hold off a 16-5 rally by
the Wolfpack over the final 4 1/2 minutes, before extending its
ACC-record road winning streak to 18 straight.
Duke (1963-66) and North Carolina (1976-79 and 1982-85) are the
only other teams in ACC history to win or share four straight
regular season titles.
The Blue Devils won the ACC crown despite losing three players
early to the NBA, plus the graduation of 3-point ace Trajan Langdon
and the transfer of projected starting center Chris Burgess.
"Even though it seemed like the walls of the empire were
falling, we knew we had three pillars and a coach who is good to
lead this program," said Shane Battier, referring to himself,
Carrawell, junior Nate James and coach Mike Krzyzewski.
"Outside of Durham and this program I don't think you would
have found too many people who thought Duke would have been 12-1
and have a share of the ACC title right now," added Battier, who
had 15 points. "But this is a testament to our coaches and the
whole program."
The Wolfpack (15-9, 5-8) lost its fifth straight after a 15-4
start and is in danger of missing the NCAA tournament. Anthony
Grundy led N.C. State with 26 points.
The first meeting at Durham a month ago, a 92-88 overtime win by
the Blue Devils, produced 16 lead changes and 15 ties, but Duke
never trailed in this one.
"Our guys were good, especially our veterans," Krzyzewski
said. "Carrawell came up with some big plays."
Duke extended its six-point halftime lead to 53-37 with 11:47
left as the Wolfpack started 1-for-9 from the field in the second
half and the Blue Devils got inspired play from freshmen Jason
Williams and Carlos Boozer.
Williams, saddled with foul trouble in the first half, hit a
3-pointer and made a layup, while Boozer had a three-point play and
another layup as the Blue Devils built their lead to double digits.
When N.C. State closed to 57-48 with 8:11 left, Carrawell took
over, hitting a 3-pointer and a turnaround jumper as Duke made four
straight shots and turned back the Wolfpack rally over the final
minutes.
"I love the fact that he wants to ball," Krzyzewski said of
Carrawell.
Wolfpack coach Herb Sendek didn't hesitate when asked who made
the difference for Duke.
"He is one of those special guys," Sendek said of Carrawell,
who had 30 against the Wolfpack in the first meeting. "As
complicated as we want to make basketball sometimes, there are
those special individuals that just step up and make a great
difference. He has great experience and great talent."
The Wolfpack started 1-for-10 from the field to fall into an
11-point hole early.
"We came at them and that was important," Carrawell said.
"Anytime you go on the road you've got to get off to an early
jump. That was the key because they had to keep fighting to get
over the hump. Every time they made a run it seemed like we made a
basket."
Duke made its first four shots to quiet the crowd of 19,623, but
Williams picked up two fouls in the opening four minutes. With
Williams playing cautious or on the bench, the Blue Devils' offense
became stagnant and their defense was forced into an
uncharacteristic zone defense for a possession or two.
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ALSO SEE
Mens College Basketball Scoreboard
Duke Clubhouse
North Carolina State Clubhouse
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Carlos Boozer attacks the rim.
avi: 433 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Chris Carrawell drives the lane with a jumper.
avi: 570 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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