An 11-0 first-half run gave Duke control, and the Blue Devils put the clamp down on Virginia in the second half en route to a 56-41 win in Charlottesville Wednesday.
A packed house at the John Paul Jones Arena was abuzz after an early 8-0 UVa. run gave Virginia a 12-7 lead at the 13-minute mark. The Duke run that followed a few minutes later helped push the Blue Devils to a 34-26 lead at the break.
From there it was all about defense. Virginia could manage only 15 points in the second half and never mounted a serious threat after the break.
Mustapha Farrakhan led Virginia (12-13, 3-8 ACC) with 11 points.
Nolan Smith scored 22 points on 9-of-17 shooting from the field to lead Duke (24-2, 11-1 ACC).