Courtesy of The News and Observer March 4, 1960 via Newspapers.com
Duke Sweeps Past South Carolina, 82–69, to Reach ACC Semifinals
Blue Devils Regain Early‑Season Spark; Set Fourth Meeting With Tar Heels
RALEIGH, March 3 — Duke University rediscovered the sharp form that marked its early season surge and rode it straight into the Atlantic Coast Conference semifinals here tonight, turning back a stubborn South Carolina club, 82–69, in the opening round of the league’s seventh annual tournament.
The youthful Blue Devils seized the lead from the opening tap and never once surrendered it, earning a Friday night date with top‑seeded North Carolina in what will be the fourth clash of the bitter rivals this winter.
Wake Forest and defending champion N.C. State collide in the nightcap, completing an all‑Big Four semifinal card that has been sold out for days.
Bubas Returns to Winning Formula
Coach Vic Bubas, seeking to recapture the chemistry that carried Duke to nine victories in its first 12 outings, restored his original starting five — and the move paid immediate dividends. Jack Mullen and Johnny Frye returned to the backcourt, with Captain Howie Hurt shifting back to forward, and the unit wasted no time asserting itself.
Frye and Hurt opened the scoring with quick baskets, and Duke steadily widened the margin. By the midpoint of the half the Blue Devils led 23–11, and they stretched the advantage to 33–20 before South Carolina trimmed it to five. Two late free throws by Doug Kistler restored a 40–33 halftime cushion.
Kistler Ignites Duke Attack
Kistler, the scrappy junior who has been Duke’s sparkplug all season, turned in his finest scoring performance of the year with 26 points, hitting nine of 19 from the floor and grabbing 10 rebounds. Hurt followed with 21, Frye added 14, and 6‑7 Carroll Youngkin contributed 11 while dominating the boards with 16 rebounds.
The Blue Devils shot a crisp 41.8 percent from the field, connecting on 28 of 67 attempts.
Gamecocks Rally, But Duke Answers
Coach Bob Stevens’ Gamecocks, who had pushed Duke to the limit twice during the regular season, again proved troublesome. South Carolina closed to within three at 44–41 four minutes into the second half, with Bobby Robinson, Mike Callahan, and Art Whisnant combining for 50 of the team’s 69 points.
But Duke steadied itself after a timeout and reeled off 10 points to South Carolina’s three over the next six minutes, rebuilding a double‑digit lead at 54–44. From there the Blue Devils controlled the tempo and the glass, finishing with a 47–39 rebounding edge.
Callahan led the Gamecocks with 17 points and 12 rebounds, but he hit only five of 18 shots. Whisnant matched him with 15, while Robinson topped the trio with 18.
Tar Heels Await in Semifinal
The victory sends Duke into a rematch with North Carolina, which swept the season series by wide margins and has beaten the Blue Devils six straight times, including last year’s tournament semifinal. But tonight’s performance suggested that Duke may be rounding back into the form that made it an early contender.
The ACC semifinals begin Friday at 7:30 p.m., with the championship game set for Saturday night.
Courtesy of The Herald-Sun March 4, 1960 via Newspapers.com
Courtesy of The News and Observer March 4, 1960 via Newspapers.com