• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Gonzaga, Duke cross paths for first time

Dec 21, 2006 - 3:10 PM No. 24 Gonzaga (9-3) at No. 6 Duke (10-1) 9:00 pm EST

NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Gonzaga tries to make it nine wins in a row against Atlantic Coast Conference opponents when it faces Duke for the first time ever Thursday.

The 24th-ranked Bulldogs extended their streak against ACC competition on November 22 in the NIT Season Tip-Off with an 82-74 upset of then-No. 2 ranked North Carolina here. Gonzaga improved 8-1 at Madison Square Garden vs. the conference.

Derek Raivio scored 19 points and Jeremy Pargo followed with 17, but the Bulldogs fell short, 96-83, to Georgia on Saturday. Josh Heytvelt had 15 points for Gonzaga, which made 11 3-pointers, but could not overcome 21 turnovers.

The sixth-ranked Blue Devils pulled out their sixth straight win with a 79-72 victory over Kent State on Tuesday. Josh McRoberts collected 19 points, six blocks and four steals and DeMarcus Nelson added 18 points.

Freshman Jon Scheyer had 17 points for Duke, which is 7-1 all-time against West Coast Conference opponents.

The Blue Devils place a five-game winning streak here on the line. They are 13-5 all-time at the Garden.