CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia (Ticker) -- Shelden Williams scored 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as second-ranked Duke posted its ninth straight win, a 93-71 Atlantic Coast Conference triumph over Virginia.

After taking just two shots and scoring four points in a foul-plagued first half, Williams did not start the second half. But he made an impact upon returning, sinking half of his 10 shots and scoring 17 points.

"One of the reasons we went to him was just to get him involved in the game," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "He only played seven minutes in the first half and we didn't start him in the second half. Going to him was our way of getting him involved, and he really got back in the game."

The win was the 17th in 19 meetings with Virginia for Duke (12-1, 2-0 ACC), which closed the first half with a 7-2 burst and cruised over the final 20 minutes.

Devin Smith led the Cavaliers (10-3, 0-2) with 19 points.

A dunk by Gary Forbes got Virginia within 39-36 with 2:37 to go before halftime, but Daniel Ewing buried a 3-pointer 30 seconds later.

Donte Minter had a layup for Virginia with 70 seconds remaining, but Luol Deng answered with a dunk and jumper 41 seconds apart for a 46-38 halftime edge.

Duke shot 53 percent (19-of-36) in the first half and outscored Virginia in the paint, 30-14.

"The end of the first half is a very important part of the game, and it was key tonight," Virginia coach Pete Gillen. "If we could have gone into the half down two or four rather than eight, it could have been the difference in the outcome of the game."

A 10-0 burst early in the second half pushed the Blue Devils' lead to 63-45. Virginia tried one last comeback, drawing within 71-60 with 9:09 to go, but Williams scored the first seven points in a 9-0 run. Duke shot 52 percent (34-of-65) from the field and held a 43-30 advantage on the boards.

All five starters and freshman reserve Deng scored in double figures for the Blue Devils. Minter had 12 points and six rebounds in 16 minutes off the bench for the Cavaliers.