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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) -- This time, No. 2 Duke didn't pass coach Mike Krzyzewski's annual late-season test.
Bootsy Thornton hit an 18-foot jumper with 13 seconds left as
St. John's beat the Blue Devils 83-82 Saturday, snapping Duke's
64-game winning streak against non-ranked opponents.
"We didn't play poorly," said Krzyzewski, who likes to examine
his team in late February against a tough non-Atlantic Coast
Conference team. "If we would have played poorly we would have
gotten run out of the gym.
|  | | Bootsy Thornton of St. John's drives between Duke's Chris Carrawell, left, and Shane Battier for two of his game-high 22 points. |
"I thought we played great at times, but we didn't compete for
the full 40 minutes, and to win big-time games like this you've got
to do that."
Duke beat St. John's (20-6) in overtime at Madison Square Garden
last season as Thornton scored 40, and the teams put on another
classic at steamy Cameron Indoor Stadium as the Red Storm won its
seventh straight.
"This team is being themselves and they're having a lot of fun
do it," Red Storm coach Mike Jarvis said.
"This has been an incredible week, starting with (wins) over
Syracuse, Connecticut and now Duke. It's too bad the season doesn't
end now."
Thornton scored 22 points this time with 11 rebounds and six
assists. Carlos Boozer had 21 points for Duke and Nate James added
20.
The Blue Devils (22-4) had a chance to win it in the closing
five seconds. After a timeout, Chris Carrawell's 15-footer bounced
off the rim and into the corner as time ran out.
"That was the longest five seconds of my life," said Thornton,
who was guarding Carrawell.
"If we hit the shot at the end, I'm not sure that we deserved
to win as much as they did," Krzyzewski said. "Overall, I thought
they played better than we did."
The loss was only Duke's third against a non-conference team in
Cameron since 1983 -- a span of 129 games.
"The resiliency that our kids showed in the game is a
reflection of who they are, their character, where they have come
from and where they want to do," Jarvis said.
Duke trailed by one at the half and 75-70 with 5:57 left before
James and Jason Williams sank consecutive 3-pointers and Boozer had
a dunk and a foul shot.
The lead changed hands three times over the final 1:18 as
Chudney Gray of St. John's made two free throws, James sank a
3-pointer with 44.7 seconds left and Thornton nailed the game
winner.
Thornton's winning shot came after Erick Barkley and Lavor
Postell missed shots, but St. John's was able to get two of its 14
offensive rebounds.
"I'm just glad it went in," Thornton said of his winning shot.
"I was shooting the same shot all game from the same side. It was
enough to win."
All 10 starters hit double figures in a game that had an
NCAA Tournament feel.
St. John's used a 15-3 run midway through the second half to
take a seven-point lead as Duke struggled against a matchup zone.
Some key plays by Boozer, Williams and James got the Blue Devils
back into it and set up the hectic final minutes.
Illinois in 1995 and Michigan in '96 are the only other
non-conference teams to beat Duke here in 17 years.
"In a one-game situation they are really a dangerous team,"
Krzyzewski said of St. John's. "They are old, well-coached and
play with a lot of heart."
Duke went on a 22-5 run early in the first half after Krzyzewski
called an early timeout to lecture his team on its intensity and
defensive effort. Shane Battier scored 11 points in the spurt,
giving the Blue Devils a 12-point lead.
Battier missed his last four shots as the Red Storm climbed back
into it, closing the half with a 15-6 run to grab a one-point lead
as Barkley scored seven and Thornton two baskets.
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ALSO SEE
Mens College Basketball Scoreboard
St Johns Clubhouse
Duke Clubhouse
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