Duke on top once again

INDIANAPOLIS - Wisconsin's bid for its first NCAA title in 74 years ended in a haze of fireworks debris and confetti as the Badgers walked off the court at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Duke (35-4) rallied past Wisconsin with a late flurry and beat the Badgers 68-63 for the 2015 NCAA championship Monday night. It marked the fifth NCAA title for Duke Hall of Fame Coach Mike Krzyzewski, second-best behind UCLA's John Wooden.

The Badgers (36-4) led throughout most of the second half but Duke's young and talented crew stayed composed in critical junctures. Wisconsin led 58-56 with 4:06 remaining. Then Duke's Tyus Jones buried a 3-pointer to give the Blue Devils a one-point lead. Duke failed to surrender its advantage the rest of the way.

On Duke's next possession, center Jahlil Okafor barreled inside for a basket to go ahead 61-58. Wisconsin failed to get a productive shot on its next possession, and Okafor scored again. On Wisconsin's next trip, players from both teams battled for a rebound off a missed Bronson Koenig shot. The ball was ruled out of bounds on Koenig, and a video review failed to overturn the call. Jones nailed a 3-pointer on Duke's next possession to push the Blue Devils up 66-58 with 1:22 left.

The Big Ten champion Badgers led by as many as nine points with 13:25 left in the game. Wisconsin came out of the second half firing. On their first possession, Bronson Koenig drilled a 3-pointer to go ahead 34-31. After Duke countered with a Justise Winslow basket, Wisconsin's Kaminsky scored on a pass from Koenig and Sam Dekker followed with a drive to push Wisconsin ahead 38-33.

Kaminsky, the national player of the year, scored 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Nigel Hayes scored 13 and Dekker added 12.

Jones was named the Tournament MVP after scoring a game-high 23 points. He hit all seven free throws. Grayson Allen added 16 points off the bench, including eight straight to take the Blue Devils from a 48-39 deficit to within four points.

Wisconsin shot 41 percent, while Duke shot 47.1 percent. The lead changed 16 times.

The Big Ten now has lost its last six consecutive national title appearances dating to 2000, when Michigan State beat Florida. It was Wisconsin's first NCAA title game since 1941.

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