U-M so close as Duke wins 73-71 in West Regional

Nolan Smith scored 24 points and the top-seeded Blue Devils held their breath as the Wolverines’ last shot clanged off the iron, sealing a 73-71 third round win that marked the 900th victory of coach Mike Krzyzewski’s Hall of Fame career.

Michigan, which trailed by 15 with 10:51 to play, clawed within one point twice in the final 90 seconds before Smith missed a free throw with 8.7 seconds left to give the Wolverines one last chance.

Darius Morris zipped downcourt and put up a runner in the lane with 2 seconds left, but the shot bounced off the back iron and the rebound went to Smith at the buzzer.

Morris finished with 16 points to lead Michigan, which made seven 3-pointers — the most allowed by Duke in a month.

Coach John Beilein frustrated Duke by mixing his defenses, and Tim Hardaway Jr. reeled off seven consecutive points down the stretch, capped by a 3-pointer that made it 70-69 with 1:27 remaining.

Hardaway scored 15 points, Evan Smotrycz had 13, Novak scored 12 and Jordan Morgan finished with 10 for the Wolverines, who don’t have a senior on the roster. They were denied their first trip to the round of 16 since 1994.


WRAPPING UP THE THIRD ROUND...

- A pair of #11s played like higher seeds as VCU pulled off a big upset against #3 Purdue, 94-76 and Marquette earned a big win over #3 Syracuse, 66-62.

- #10 Florida State dominated #2 Notre Dame, 71-57 to enter the Sweet 16.

- #1 seeds Kansas & Ohio State cruised through the 3rd round while North Carolina & Arizona went down to the wire to win their games.