By Kenneth Cross
The No. 8 Virginia Cavaliers outlasted Duke, 69-62, in overtime as the Cavaliers had to play through many adverse situations, but forward Armaan Franklin caused the most adversity for Duke as he scored 23 points, and made the key shot that allowed Virginia to shake free in the overtime period.
Duke’s chances to win the ACC title took a hit this week with the 81-59 loss to Miami and then the overtime loss to the Cavaliers. Saturday evening showed the presence of the rivalry between these two teams, firsthand.
A blocked shot at the buzzer in regulation by Virginia guard Reece Beekman was allowed although the triplicate of officials had blown a whistle and called a foul on Virginia’s Ryan Dunn on a Kyle Filipowski.
The Duke center had driven the left side off of a V-cut on the perimeter. Apparently, the shot was blocked before any contact which would have alleviated a potential whistle.
“Our rim protection was a little more taking charges today and then at the end, the block by Reece, whether it was called or not,” explained Bennett. “It was just one of those games where guys figured it out.”
Officials Jeffrey Anderson, Tim Clougherty, and Lee Cassell watched the video and rightfully ruled that the play was over and the foul should have not been awarded.
The ACC office begged to differ as it ruled that contact was made by Ryan Dunn before the shot had gone off.
As you look at the film, Beekman’s block alleviated anything further as it ended the status of the play as the buzzer ended regulation. That block followed any contact that could have been called on Dunn.
Franklin led the Cavs with those 23 points and went 9-of-13 from the floor as three of the nine shots, including the late overtime shot, were from beyond the three-point arc.
He came up enormous when he nailed that three-point field goal with 40 seconds remaining in the extra session. It gave the Cavaliers what was an insurmountable 66-62 lead.
“Kihei (Clark) was on a wing and I just ran to the corner,” said Franklin. “His man didn’t switch off. He said, ‘Oh, the corner, look!’ And I shoot a million of those a day. It was good to see that one go in.”
Clark, Virginia’s point guard, once again was the epitome of a leader as he was 7-of-10 from the floor, netting 16 points and five assists, and he found an open Franklin for that triple.
Beekman’s overall prowess was prime for the Cavaliers in the 41 minutes that he was on the floor. He had three assists and no turnovers with seven boards and six assists.
“He’s got great instincts,” said Bennett. “I thought Kihei and Reece were for the most part on the ball today and that was a key as well.”