NC State Wolfpack at Duke Blue Devils

Duke rallies again against NC State, 92-89 in ACC tourney

Plumlee had a tiebreaking three-point play with 1:14 left, then helped force a turnover, and 19th-ranked Duke overcame a second-half deficit against North Carolina State for the third time in three meetings as the reigning NCAA champion pulled out a 92-89 victory in the ACC Tournament's second round Wednesday.

Duke (23-9) will face defending ACC tournament champion Notre Dame in the quarterfinals. The Fighting Irish beat the Blue Devils in last year's semifinals.

One measure of just how much these teams scored at will: Both had shooting percentages above 60 percent in the first half, which ended with the Wolfpack ahead 53-50. In all, there were 18 ties and 21 lead changes. Eight players ended up in double-figures.

N.C. State already had played Duke tight twice this season. On Jan. 23, the Wolfpack led 43-36 at halftime at home before losing by 10. And in the rematch at Cameron Indoor Stadium two weeks later, Duke again trailed in the second half before winning by eight.

"We just couldn't get over the hump," said Barber, the ACC's leading scorer, who banged his arm on the court while he and Allen chased a loose ball in the second half but still finished with 29 points.

Barber was treated on the sideline and missed a minute of game action before returning with a white sleeve on his right arm; he had an ice pack on his elbow after the game. He missed some free throws late, including after Allen was whistled for a flagrant-1 foul after grabbing at the back of Barber's jersey on a fast break.

Later, after Plumlee scored the game's final points, Barber drove the lane but was confronted by the 7-footer, and N.C. State lost possession.

"We've just got to be able to score that ball," Wolfpack coach Mark Gottfried said.

Freshmen Brandon Ingram and Luke Kennard scored 22 points apiece for Duke, while Plumlee contributed 17 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks.

BARBER'S DECISION

Asked whether he will declare for the NBA draft or came back to N.C. State for his senior year, Barber said: "That's something I'm going to have to sit on and think about it with my family." Said Krzyzewski: "Barber's been a great, great player. Not a good player. A great player. He not only produces points, but he produces attention."

TIP-INS

N.C. State: Barber came with a league-leading eight games of at least 30 points. ... F Abdul-Malik Abu had 19 points and nine rebounds.

Duke: Came into the ACC Tournament having dropped three of its past five games, with losses against Louisville, Pittsburgh and North Carolina. ... Ingram played 40 minutes, but said he doesn't think fatigue will be a factor going forward, noting: "I'm still young."

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Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich

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