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Duke, Michigan meet in finals of 2K Sports Classic

Nov 21, 2008 - 2:35 PM No. 5 Duke (4-0) vs. Michigan (3-0) 7:00 p.m EST

NEW YORK (Ticker) - Duke has already endured a scare. Michigan is looking to make that nightmare a reality.

Fifth-ranked Duke looks to claim the title at the 2008 2K Sports Classic at Madison Square Garden on Friday when it faces Michigan in the tournament final.

Kyle Singler hit two free throws with 19.4 seconds left to help the Blue Devils escape with an 82-79 victory against Rhode Island on Sunday.

Determined not to take another lesser opponent lightly, Duke stepped on the accelerator in the second half on Thursday, cruising to an 83-58 victory against Southern Illinois in a semifinal.

After being held to 32 percent shooting (6-for-19) while committing 15 turnovers in the first half, the Blue Devils picked it up in the final 20 minutes, putting on an offensive display while chopping the turnover count to two.

Singler and Gerald Henderson were held scoreless on a combined 0-of-6 shooting in the first half but went 8-of-16 in the second to finish with 33 total points.

The Wolverines will have to limit the talented duo of Singler and Henderson if they want to claim their second straight upset victim.

DeShawn Sims scored 18 points and Manny Harris added 13 to lead Michigan to a 55-52 victory over No. 4 UCLA during its semifinal. The win was the first for the Wolverines against a top-five team since December 13, 1997.