Fueled by an emotional half-time locker-room session, Duke began to overwhelm the youngsters from Michigan and show the rest of the country why they were picked as the No. 1 team. Laettner set the tone for Duke, scoring 14-second half points and controlling the paint. But, the night also belonged to Duke's younger players. Ignited by the athletic ability of sophomore Grant Hill and the floor management by junior Bobby Hurley, who later would claim the tournaments most valuable player award, the Blue Devils went on to outscore the Wolverines 41-20 in the second half and finish off Michigan by a score of 71-51.
