Free-throw shooting gave Duke a huge boost as the Blue Devils shot just 35.3 percent from the field, including 6-for-22 (27.3 percent) in the second half.
The Devils, who lead the ACC in free-throw percentage, held the lead for the entire game in part because they shot 24-for-28 (85.7 percent) from the free-throw line, 10 percent higher than their average.
"Our free-throw shooting during the tournament at the end was just spectacular, and you can't practice that," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said.
Forward Kyle Singler made an ACC championship game-record 14 free throws in 16 attempts. Teammate Jon Scheyer had set the record with 13 free throws in last year's final against Florida State.
One of the most satisfying things for Krzyzewski as he left the Greensboro Coliseum was the feeling that the Blue Devils improved as a team throughout the tournament.
For the third straight day, he complimented backup post players Miles and Mason Plumlee. Mason had two huge offensive rebounds late in the game. He passed one back to Scheyer for a 3-pointer and caught the other rebound and dunked all in one motion.
"The Plumlees got better this week," Krzyzewski said.
Bobby Cremins is Charleston's coach, but his heart still is with Georgia Tech.
The former Yellow Jackets coach sat in the first row behind the scorers' table.
The arena was flooded with blue as Duke fans managed to secure a ton of tickets from fans of other schools.
One fan even held up a sign thanking North Carolina and Maryland for her tickets.
