GREENSBORO, N.C. — No. 21 Duke scored the game’s first 12 points against Pittsburgh on Thursday, then did it again to start the second half.
What happened between and after those 12-point runs was all good for the Blue Devils as well.
Kyle Filipowski’s 22 points led hot-shooting Duke, which pounded Pitt, 96-69, in the ACC tournament quarterfinals at Greensboro Coliseum.
Winners of seven consecutive games and 10 of their past 12, the No. 4-seeded Blue Devils (24-8) advance to Friday night’s tournament semifinals to play top-seeded Miami at 7 p.m.
Duke eliminated coach Jeff Capel’s Panthers (22-11) in punishing style. The Blue Devils shot a season-best 62.1% overall, hitting 11 of 26 3-pointers. They raced to a 48-32 lead, their largest-scoring first half of the season and continued to pour it on Pitt by making 10 of their first 13 shots of the second half.
In addition to Filipowski’s output, fellow freshman Dereck Lively matched his season high with 13 points. A third freshman, Mark Mitchell, scored 12 points while his classmate, Tyrese Proctor, finished with 11.
Pitt shot 42.3% overall while making 5 of 18 3-pointers (27.8%). Nike Sibande’s 17 points paced Pitt while first-team, all-ACC guard Jamarius Burton scored 13 points, on 5-of-12 shooting.
The only bit of unpleasantness for the Blue Devils came early in the first half when Filipowski fell to the court with an injured left ankle. He was helped to the bench but after receiving treatment returned to the game.
The Blue Devils blitzed Pitt from the game’s start, scoring the first 12 points and never letting their lead fall below eight points the rest of the half.
After hitting two 3-pointers, Filipowski left the game with 17:27 after colliding with Pitt’s Blake Hinson and injuring his left ankle. That scare didn’t slow the Blue Devils much and Filipowski, with his ankle having been re-taped, returned to the game with 11:16 to play with Duke up 16-6.
The Blue Devils shot 63% in the first half, making 17 of 27 shots, while turning the ball over just four times.
In addition to Filipowski’s 14 points, Lively and Roach each scored seven first-half points for Duke.
The Blue Devils limited Pitt to 41.7% shooting (10 of 24) in the first half.
