MIAMI, Fla. -- He says there's not anything, but there seems to be something about Duke that turns on Miami senior guard Angel Rodriguez.

A year after scoring 24 points and handing out five assists and coming up with five steals in a win over the Blue Devils in Cameron Indoor Stadium, Rodriguez put up 13 points and dished out a career-high 11 assists in teaming with backcourt mate Sheldon McClellan to key No. 15 Miami's 80-69 victory over 24th-ranked Duke in Atlantic Coast Conference play here Monday night.

"I think it's a coincidence," said Rodriguez, who had 11 of his points in the first half as the Hurricanes went to the locker room up four points and eight of his assists in the second when Miami pulled away to its 15th double-digit victory of the season. "I like playing the powerhouses. That's what we come to the ACC for.

"But at the end of the day, our goal is bigger than just beating Duke. Our goal is to win every single game that we can to have a chance to put ourselves in a position to win the ACC title."

The Hurricanes (16-3, 5-2 ACC) have done not only that but also have put the Blue Devils (15-6, 4-4) in a tough spot in the league race. The Blue Devils have lost four of their last five games.

"We haven't played in a game like that all year -- that physical," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "It was really physical. Our guys hung in there really well, played through tired. It's just that we can't practice that because we don't have the guys."

The game was a back and forth affair for the first 20 minutes with five ties and six lead changes, the last coming when Rodriguez drilled a 3-pointer with 3:32 left in the opening period to break a 25-25 tie.

The Hurricanes went to the locker room up 35-31 and never trailed in the second half, quickly building a 14-point lead midway through the period before the Blue Devils fought back.

Guard/forward Brandon Ingram and guard Grayson Allen rallied the Blue Devils from a 55-41 deficit, combining for 23 of their game-total 36 points over the second half.

The Blue Devils were within five with just over five minutes to go and closed to within six points at 75-69 on Ingram's free throws with 31 seconds remaining, but then McClellan broke away for a dunk on the ensuing play to seal it for the Hurricanes.

"I thought our defense was terrific from start to finish," Miami coach Jim Larranaga said after the Hurricanes, who shot 50.8 percent from the field, held the Blue Devils to 41.7 percent for the game. "Didn't rebound quite as well as I expected, but our defense was great.

"The whole key to the game offensively was we had 24 assists (on 30 field goals) and only seven turnovers. That was fantastic."

The Hurricanes had four players in double figures with McClellan once again coming up big in the second half to lead all scorers with 21 points, 16 of them in the second half.

Guard Ja'Quan Newton came off the bench for 15 and guard Davon Reed matched Rodriguez with 14. Center Tonye Jekiri had 10 rebounds and two key assists late in the game for the Hurricanes.

In addition to Ingram's 19 and Grayson's 17, guard Matt Jones had 10 points for the Blue Devils. Ingram also had 10 rebounds for a double-double.

The Blue Devils once again were shorthanded, playing without forward Amile Jefferson, who is out with a foot injury.

"We've gotten better," Krzyzewsk said. "We've competed in every darn game since Amile (Jefferson) has been gone, and had a chance in every game. That’s all I'm looking for.

"Hopefully, the wins will be there. But the winning effort has been there the entire time, the preparation, the attitude -- it's terrific.

NOTES: Duke has a roster that features seven McDonald's All-Americans (F/C Chase Jeter, G Grayson Allen, G Luke Kennard, G Matt Jones, G/F Brandon Ingram, F Amile Jefferson, and C Marshall Plumlee). Miami will have just the fourth in program history when November signee Dewan Huell, a 6-10 power forward out of Miami's Norland High, joins the roster next season (Darius Rice 2000, Steve Edwards 1992), and Tito Horford 1985). ... Miami coach Jim Larranaga now stands 4-2 against Duke since his arrival for the 2011-12 season. ... Miami G Angel Rodriguez tied a season high with three 3-pointers. ... Duke G/F Brandon Ingram's double-double (19 points, 10 rebounds) was his fourth of the season.