Nolan Smith scored a game-high 22 points as No. 5 Duke rode a superior defensive effort to a 56-41 victory at Virginia on Wednesday evening.

The Blue Devils (24-2, 11-1 ACC) were never truly threatened after taking the lead for good, 23-15, with a 16-3 run midway through the first half. Virginia trailed by eight at halftime and got no closer after the break.

Duke turned the ball over 18 times but more than made up for it at the defensive end, holding the Cavaliers to 16-of-56 shooting (28.6 percent) from the floor. The Blue Devils also finished with a 39-29 rebounding edge.

Ryan Kelly added 11 points and four blocked shots for Duke in the low-scoring affair, while Mason Plumlee added nine points and nine rebounds. Mustapha Farrakhan led the Cavaliers (12-13, 3-8) with 11 points.