Duke tops Jackets in heartbreaker

After winning a thrilling one-point game at Florida State on a pair of B.J. Elder free throws, the Jackets returned home and lost to Duke 60-56 in a game that came down to the final moments and that could have gone to either team.

With the loss the Jackets dropped to 15-9 on the season and 6-7 in ACC play. Tech has now moved on to the bubble, and the team needs to have an impressive performance in its final three regular season games and in the ACC tournament to secure a berth to the Big Dance.

At half time the score was tied at 33 points for each team. Tech ' s solid defense held the Blue Devils to make just nine out of 30 shots. Duke ' s Shelden Williams made one of seven field goal attempts in the first half, and Duke Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski attributes his center ' s lack of offensive production to the play of Luke Schenscher.

" Schenscher doesn ' t get the credit he deserves. He protects their goal so well. We were one for 10 inside in the first half, and so much of that has to do with his presence. He ' s really played well, " Krzyzewski said after the game. " Everyone knows he ' s a good player; I think he ' s a really good player. "

In the final minute of the game a pair of offensive rebounds for the Blue Devils helped secure their victory. With 40 seconds left and the Jackets down by three points, Duke ' s Lee Melchionni sent a three-pointer bouncing off of the iron, but Daniel Ewing pulled down the offensive rebound and gave the Blue Devils a fresh shot clock.

Krzyzewski said that Ewing pulling in that rebound " was probably as important a play as there was in the basketball game. "

B.J. Elder then fouled Ewing to give him two shots from the free-throw line. After missing his first foul shot, Ewing gave Tech another opportunity when he also missed his second attempt.

But Williams pulled in the offensive rebound for the Blue Devils with 30 seconds left, and Tech could never come back.The Jackets held the Blue Devils to just 33.9 percent shooting from the field, but Tech ' s offense couldn ' t finish the game on top.

J.J. Redick sealed the game by hitting a pair of free throws after a foul was called on Mario West as the Blue Devils were attempting to get the ball in play. Redick led all scorers with 21 points.

Jarrett Jack scored 20 points for Tech and Luke Schenscher added 16 in the losing effort.

" At home if you hold someone to 34 percent from the floor, you hope to be able to win those types of ball games. It is very disappointing that we didn ' t, " Tech Head Coach Paul Hewitt said after the game.

But Hewitt was proud of the fact that the defense played so well.

" One thing you like about veteran teams is that they don ' t allow their offense to impact their defense. Yes our offense is not smooth right now, but they continue to defend which is...a sign of a mature team, " Hewitt said.

The Jackets return to action Saturday at ACC newcomer Miami in a critical game in Coral Gables, Fla. Both Tech and the Hurricanes are considered on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament, which will add to the intensity.