College Basketball

Krzyzewski sets Division I men’s milestone

Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski celebrates with his players after his 1,000th career win in an NCAA college basketball game against St. John's at Madison Square Garden in New York, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015. Krzyzewski became the first men's coach in Division I history with 1,000 wins. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski celebrates with his players after his 1,000th career win in an NCAA college basketball game against St. John's at Madison Square Garden in New York, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015. Krzyzewski became the first men's coach in Division I history with 1,000 wins. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

NEW YORK -- Mike Krzyzewski earned his 1,000th career victory Sunday, making him the first NCAA Division I men's coach to reach the milestone, when No. 5 Duke surged past St. John's in the second half for a 77-68 victory at Madison Square Garden.

Tyus Jones scored 22 points and the Blue Devils (17-2) outscored the Red Storm 18-2 down the stretch to put Coach K in four figures on his first try.

When the final horn sounded, Blue Devils players engulfed Krzyzewski and he received a bear hug from assistant Jeff Capel. Photographers swarmed the coach on the court, and players were given T-shirts that read "1,000 Wins And Kounting."

A public address announcement offered congratulations to Krzyzewski, and Duke fans at a packed Garden chanted his name and held aloft "K" signs.

"I'm glad it's over," Krzyzewski said in the postgame interview room with family nearby -- including two of his three daughters and seven of his nine grandchildren. "There will be others that win more, but it is kind of neat to be the first one to 1,000,. I am proud of that, too: It's not just the number of wins, but the quality of opponents we've had."

Jahlil Okafor had 17 points and 10 rebounds, combining with Jones and Quinn Cook (17 points) to fuel the decisive spurt after Duke trailed by 10 with 8:15 remaining.

"I'm not sure I've ever been a part of a game like that. That's kind of nuts, huh?" Krzyzewski said. "It just seemed like three different games."

The Blue Devils finally began to look like a Krzyzewski-coached team in the final 8:15, picking up their defense and hustling to loose balls as he urged them on from one knee in front of the bench. Duke outworked the Red Storm on the glass and held them without a field goal for 6 pivotal minutes.

"It just, boom! It was great," Krzyzewski said. "It was beautiful, really, to see them fight today and win."

Sir'Dominic Pointer had 21 points and 10 rebounds for the Red Storm (13-6), who were looking to improve their NCAA tournament resume. They were in position to get it, but got worn down late by Duke and let this one slip away.

No. 1,000 came about 500 miles from the cramped and cozy confines of Cameron Indoor Stadium, but Coach K was hardly on unfamiliar soil.

Madison Square Garden was where he won No. 903 against Michigan State in November 2011, breaking the Division I record previously held by his college coach and mentor, Bob Knight.

"To win the 1,000th here, you need to be a lucky guy," Krzyzewski said. "I like my place, Cameron, but this is a magical place."

The all-time leader in Division I collegiate victories is former Tennessee women's coach Pat Summitt, who retired after the 2011-2012 season with 1,098.

Krzyzewski, 67, improved to 1,000-308 in a 40-year coaching career that began in 1975 at his alma mater, Army. He is 927-249 in 35 seasons at Duke, guiding the Blue Devils to 4 NCAA titles and 11 trips to the Final Four.

"It's special. But it's for all the players who have played for him who got these wins. It's not just us," Cook said. "That's why we wanted to come out and get it done."

The crowd of 19,812 included fans of both schools, about 15-20 former Duke players as well as Carmelo Anthony and Phil Jackson from the New York Knicks; St. John's greats Chris Mullin, Lou Carnesecca and Felipe Lopez; and Nike boss Phil Knight.

Around 30 minutes before the opening tip, ticket prices ranged from $225 to $888 on stubhub.com about 30 minutes before the opening tip. The price covered a second game, Iona-Niagara, which followed Duke-St. John's.

Krzyzewski, wearing a blue suit and white sneakers to support Coaches vs.Cancer, was on his feet as St. John's erased an 11-point deficit and walked after the officials at the end of the half to argue that D'Angelo Harrison's buzzer-beating three-pointer came after the shot clock expired.

Coach K didn't get the call, and the Red Storm went into the locker room leading 43-39.

"At halftime I sent a text out to destroy all the books on leadership, because it wasn't working," Krzyzewski said jokingly.

In other ACC games Sunday involving top 25 teams, Justin Anderson scored 8 of his 12 points during a late 12-0 run and No. 2 Virginia barely escaped a sold-out Cassell Coliseum with a 50-47 victory against Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va. The Cavaliers (19-0, 7-0 ACC) trailed 43-33 after the Hokies (8-11, 0-6) outscored them 30-9 in a long stretch spanning the halves. It included a span of 9:14 between the Cavaliers' first basket of the second half and its next points, the latter pulling them within 43-36 with 10:20 remaining. ... Terry Rozier scored 26 points and No. 10 Louisville pulled away from Pittsburgh 80-68 in Pittsburgh. Montrezl Harrell added 18 points and seven rebounds as the Cardinals (16-3, 4-2) bounced back from a loss to Duke by torching the Panthers (13-7, 3-4). Louisville shot a season-high 65 percent (30 of 46) from the floor, riding Rozier and Jones early then clamping down late to halt a Pitt comeback. ... Jerian Grant scored 25 points and blocked a last-second shot that helped No. 8 Notre Dame beat North Carolina State 81-78 in overtime in Raleigh, N.C. Pat Connaughton and V.J. Beachem added 11 points apiece for the Fighting Irish (19-2, 7-1). Trevor Lacey scored 13 points and Kyle Washington added 12 for N.C. State (13-8, 4-4), which has lost three of four since upsetting then-No. 2 Duke two weeks ago.

Sports on 01/26/2015

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