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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, April 3, 2010

Duke beats W. Virginia 78-57, back in title game


EDDIE PELLS
AP National Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Duke's Miles Plumlee (21) dunks in front of West Virginia players John Flowers (41), Joe Mazzulla (24) and West Virginia's Darryl Bryant (25) during the second half of a men's NCAA Final Four semifinal game today in Indianapolis. At left is Duke's Kyle Singler (12). Duke won 78-57.

AP PHOTO | Chris Steppig, NCAA Photos, POOL

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INDIANAPOLIS — The Duke Blue Devils moved within 40 minutes of their first national title in nine years Saturday night, getting 23 points from Jon Scheyer to pull away from West Virginia for a 78-57 victory.

Kyle Singler had 21 and Nolan Smith added 19 more for coach Mike Krzyzewski's team, which squashed West Virginia's feel-good story and will now try to put an end to Butler's.

In a classic case of big vs. little, the Blue Devils will face the Bulldogs on Monday night for the title.

In the Final Four for the first time since 2004, Duke opened a double-digit lead in the first half. West Virginia's best hope at a rally ended with 8:59 left when its star guard, Da'Sean Butler, hurt his left knee while driving to the basket and had to be carted off the court.

Butler finished with 10 points for the Mountaineers, who were led by Wellington Smith with 12.