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Mike Krzyzewski wins No. 1,000 as Duke beats St. John's

 
Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski gestures during the first half of an NCAA basketball game against St. John's, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015 in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) NYSW104
Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski gestures during the first half of an NCAA basketball game against St. John's, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015 in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) NYSW104
Published Jan. 26, 2015

NEW YORK

Coach 1K. How grand.

Mike Krzyzewski earned his 1,000th career win Sunday, making him the first Division I men's coach to reach the milestone when No. 5 Duke surged past St. John's in the second half for a 77-68 victory at Madison Square Garden.

Tyus Jones had 22 points and the Blue Devils (17-2) went on an 18-2 run down the stretch to put Coach K in four figures on his first try.

"I'm not sure I've ever been a part of a game like that. That's kind of nuts, huh?" Krzyzewski said. "It just seemed like three different games."

Jahlil Okafor had 17 points and 10 rebounds, combining with Jones and Quinn Cook (17 points) to fuel the decisive spurt after Duke trailed by 10 with 8:15 remaining.

That's when the Blue Devils finally began to look like a Krzyzewski-coached team, picking up their defense and hustling to loose balls as he urged them on from one knee in front of the bench. Duke outworked the Red Storm on the glass and held it without a field goal for six pivotal minutes.

"It just, boom! It was great," Krzyzewski said. "It was beautiful, really, to see them fight today and win."

When the final horn sounded, Blue Devils players engulfed Krzyzewski, and he received a bear hug from assistant Jeff Capel. Photographers swarmed the coach on the court, and players were given T-shirts that read "1,000 Wins And Kounting."

A public address announcement offered congratulations to Krzyzewski, and Duke fans at the packed Garden chanted his name and held aloft "K" signs.

"I'm glad it's over," Krzyzewski said in the postgame interview room with family nearby, including two of his three daughters and seven of his nine grandchildren.

"There will be others that win more, but it is kind of neat to be the first one to 1,000. I am proud of that, too: It's not just the number of wins but the quality of opponents we've had."

The only women's coach with 1,000 wins is former Tennessee coach Pat Summitt, with 1,098.

Sir'Dominic Pointer had 21 points and 10 rebounds for the feisty Red Storm (13-6), which was looking to boost its NCAA Tournament resume but got worn down late.

"I thought we just missed some easy looks," St. John's coach Steve Lavin said. "We came up short today, but I think you can also see the sneak preview of a team that could be very dangerous here if we continue to make progress."

No. 1,000 came about 500 miles from the cramped and cozy confines of Cameron Indoor Stadium, but Coach K was hardly on unfamiliar soil.

Madison Square Garden was where he notched victory No. 903 against Michigan State in November 2011, breaking the Division I record held by his college coach and mentor, Bob Knight.

"To win the 1,000th here, you need to be a lucky guy. I like my place, Cameron, but this is a magical place," Krzyzewski said.

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Krzyzewski, 67, improved to 1,000-308 in a 40-year coaching career that began in 1975 at his alma mater, Army. He is 927-249 in 35 seasons at Duke, guiding the Blue Devils to four NCAA titles and 11 trips to the Final Four.