Sun Devils  53    Blue Devils  64

Recap: Duke vs. Arizona State

Sports Network | November 26, 2009

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Jon Scheyer posted a game-high 16 points to lead No. 7 Duke to a 64-53 decision over Arizona State in the semifinal round of the NIT Season Tip-Off Tournament at Madison Square Garden.

The Blue Devils (5-0) advanced to the final on Friday, when they will play 13th-ranked Connecticut, an 81-55 victor over LSU in the other semifinal.

Kyle Singler donated 13 points and five boards for Duke, which had eclipsed the 100-point barrier in its previous two games. Nolan Smith ended with 14 points in the victory.

"It was a hard fought game. We knew it would be that way," Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski. "Open shots were hard to come by."

Trent Lockett and Derek Glasser each netted 13 points for the Sun Devils (4-1), who will play LSU in consolation game. Glasser also had seven rebounds.

Duke never trailed in the second half, but two Glasser free throws tied the game, 43-43, seven minutes into the stanza.

Singler and Scheyer hit consecutive buckets, and following two straight ASU turnovers and a pair of offensive rebounds, Singler nailed a trey for a 50-43 edge at the 11-minute mark.

Rihards Kuksiks momentarily stopped the run with a three-point play, but Duke rattled off 10 of the next 11 points, with three Scheyer free throws making it a 60-47 game with 5:10 to go.

The Sun Devils scored five straight points a little later and had a chance to cut into a nine-point deficit with a little over a minute to play. However, Kuksiks missed a contested three-pointer to end the comeback bid.

"I think we executed early and we played with a lot of energy. We just couldn't make that shot that we needed down the stretch," Glasser said.

Lockett's three-point play five minutes into the game had the Sun Devils in front, 15-7. Duke answered with six straight points but didn't lead until a Scheyer jumper with just under six minutes left in the half.

Scheyer capped the half with a three-pointer, and the Blue Devils led, 34-30.

The Sun Devils were off to a 4-0 start for just the fourth time in the past 23 campaigns...Duke has won 11 straight games in this tournament and has taken home the title on three occasions (1985, 2000 and 2005)...Kuksiks had 12 points for ASU, which shot 38.3 percent from the floor.