GREENVILLE, S.C., March 16 (UPI) -- Top-seeded Duke was on the verge of an unexpected exit from the NCAA Tournament Saturday before Jason Williams came through down the stretch to help the Blue Devils survive with an 84-77 victory over Notre Dame in the second round of the South Region.
Duke (31-3) advanced to the regional semifinals for the fifth straight year and Blue Devils Coach Mike Krzyzewski improved to 14-0 all-time against former assistants. Fighting Irish Coach Mike Brey was on Krzyzewski's staff for eight seasons.
"Mike's team played their hearts out and so did we," Krzyzewski said. "Both teams played with gusto and everybody was putting it on the line. It's one of the tougher games I've been involved with in the NCAA Tournament."
"I'm a Duke fan now," Brey said. "Once we're out, I told them, 'Hey, go win another one.'"
Notre Dame (22-11) provided a physical challenge for Duke and took its largest lead at 71-64 on a basket by freshman Chris Thomas with 6:24 left.
Duke responded with seven straight points, tying the game with 4:28 remaining on two free throws by Chris Duhon.
The Blue Devils took the lead for good, 77-75, on two free throws by Williams with 64 seconds left. Williams, who scored 18 points Saturday, struggled at the line for most of the season. He missed all six attempts on Jan. 6 in a loss at Florida State.
"Whenever the game comes down to the line, I want to be in that situation," Williams said. "They just went down."
Williams added a pair of free throws with 33 seconds to go for an 80-77 edge, leaving Notre Dame with a chance to tie. But Thomas missed a three-pointer and Matt Carroll was whistled for an offensive foul after grabbing the rebound.
Duke freshmen Daniel Ewing and Dahntay Jones made two free throws apiece to seal the win.
"I don't think they (Duke) played better defense all year," Brey said. "When they were down seven at the end and their life flashed before their eyes, they dug in."
Williams has been reminded often of his free-throw woes during the season after connecting on just 67 percent entering Saturday. The small contingent of Notre Dame fans did Florida State's "tomahawk chop" to try to distract him.
"Since we lost to Florida State, a lot of opposing fans are doing that," Williams said. "It actually makes me focus better."
"We do it (tomahawk chop) in practice," Krzyzewski said.
The physical contest saw two players foul out for Notre Dame and Duke center Carlos Boozer also pick up five fouls. That forced both coaches to play their reserves extensively.
Ewing was the beneficiary of the extra minutes, making fuor three-pointers for a season-high 18 points. Casey Sanders had four rebounds off the bench.
"They left me open during the course of the game," Ewing said. "I had to step up for my teammates and make my shots and I did."
Carroll led Notre Dame with 20 points and 12 rebounds. The Irish were the aggressor throughout and held a 49-40 edge on the glass and a 36-22 advantage in points in the paint.
The nature of the contest was typified by an exchange in the first half between Notre Dame's Ryan Humphrey and Duke's Mike Dunleavy. The two traded pushes and shoves before Humphrey flung Dunleavy to the floor for a technical foul.
"We're used to that," Brey said. "Our league plays like that the whole year. We're not shocked when it gets rough in our league."
David Graves scored 20 points and Humphrey added 15 and 12 rebounds for Notre Dame, which was trying to reach the regional semifinals for the first time since 1987.
"It was like a heavyweight fight with both teams throwing punches," Graves said. "It's just that time ran out on our end."
Thomas made just two of 14 shots for four points and seven assists. Thomas and Carroll combined to miss all 11 three-point attempts.
Duke improved to 19-2 against Notre Dame with its 11th straight victory in the series.
