Duke Blue Devils
Football:
Written by: Aaron Lewis
ACC Champs crowned in a thriller. Here’s how it went down.
STATE SWEEP: Duke locked down its in-state bragging rights again, forcing four turnovers and powering past Wake Forest 49–32 to defend its state title. With the win, Manny Diaz’s squad now owns North Carolina for a second straight year. In a must-win matchup to stay alive in the ACC championship race, the Blue Devils’ offense delivered one of its most efficient performances of the season. Anderson Castle, Nate Sheppard and Darian Mensah each found the end zone twice, fueling a high-scoring night while the defense repeatedly stalled the Demon Deacons with four takeaways. The victory gives Duke consecutive sweeps of its in-state opponents for the first time since the 1961–62 seasons. “It’s special to close it out with back-to-back state championships. Six ACC wins — first time since 2013, second time since 1989 — these guys keep doing things that either haven’t happened here before or haven’t happened in decades,” head coach Manny Diaz said. Wake Forest needed to match Duke score for score, but turnovers proved costly. Trailing in the second half and facing third-and-10 at their own 46, quarterback Robby Ashford fired a pass that slipped off the hands of Sawyer Racanelli and straight to Da’Shawn Stone, who made a diving interception. Just over four minutes later, Castle punched in a 2-yard touchdown that effectively sealed the outcome and sent the Demon Deacons home disappointed.
Chandler Morris Tosses 2 TDs as No. 20 Virginia Tops Duke 34-17 DURHAM, N.C. — Chandler Morris passed for 316 yards and two touchdowns to lead No. 20 Virginia to a 34-17 win over Duke on Saturday, preserving the Cavaliers’ hopes for a conference title. Morris, a sixth-year transfer who missed last week’s game against Wake Forest with a head injury, made it clear he was ready to play—and coach Tony Elliott wasn’t surprised. “He was determined to be out there,” Elliott said. “This is why he came here—to be in this position in November.”
UConn Edges Duke 37-34 in Thrilling Road Contest EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — Duke found itself in another late-game tussle for the second consecutive week, but this time the Blue Devils came up short. Trailing by three with under two minutes left, quarterback Darian Mensah tried to orchestrate a game-winning drive. After two incomplete passes, Duke faced third-and-10, which quickly became fourth-and-8. Mensah rolled out and launched a pass to Que’Sean Brown, who stepped out of bounds just beyond the first-down marker, briefly quieting the home crowd at Pratt & Whitney Stadium. Later, on third-and-4, Mensah found Cooper Barkate to keep the drive alive. A pass across the middle fell incomplete, and on the next play, Mensah was strip-sacked. UConn recovered the fumble and ran out the clock, sealing the 37-34 victory. Fans flooded the field as the band rang the victory bell to mark the Huskies’ hard-fought win. What began as a sunny autumn afternoon turned into a chilly night in New England, with a determined UConn squad proving just enough to edge past Duke in a high-scoring showdown. Photo Provided by: Duke Athletics
Duke Tops Clemson, Highlighting Tigers’ Struggles Clemson’s football program appears to be on a downward slide after suffering their second consecutive loss. Despite nearly doubling their scoring output from the previous game, the Tigers couldn’t hold off Duke, who captured a win at Memorial Stadium for the first time in 45 years—a milestone that underscores the current struggles within Clemson’s program. With a 2-3 record in conference play, questions about the future direction of the Tigers are inevitable. Head coach Dabo Swinney, reflecting on the season, admitted in the post-game press conference, “The 2010 season was probably the worst season, followed by this one. I thought I might get fired walking out of the press conference room.” That 2010 squad finished 6-7 (4-4) in conference, and Clemson has now matched that conference loss total with the defeat to Duke.
DURHAM, N.C. – Georgia Tech continued its hot start to the season, overcoming a sluggish first half to pull away in the second, defeating Duke 27-18 and improving to 7-0. The Yellow Jackets (7-0, 4-0 ACC) are off to their best start since 1966 and have reached 4-0 in conference play for the first time since 1998. Georgia Tech struggled early, managing only 110 total yards in the first half, but remained even with the Blue Devils at 7-7 at halftime, thanks to Omar Daniels’ school-record 95-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the opening quarter. After halftime, the Jackets’ offense ignited, amassing 266 yards and scoring on all four possessions following the break. Quarterback Haynes King led the surge, accounting for 325 total yards (205 passing, 120 rushing), with 240 coming in the second half alone. King directed drives of 63, 89, 72, and 71 yards, finishing the scoring with a 28-yard touchdown run that gave Georgia Tech a 27-10 advantage with just over two minutes left. Defensively, the Jackets tightened up in the second half, limiting Duke to just 116 yards over its first four possessions after halftime, following a first-half effort that saw the Blue Devils gain 238 yards. Linebacker Jy Gilmore had a standout game, recording a team-high 11 tackles, 1.5 for loss, a half sack, and two pass breakups. Georgia Tech’s defense collectively broke up five passes, sacked Duke quarterback Darian Mensah twice, and forced four hurried throws.
Basketball:
Articles Written by: Vickie Mathis
Men's basketball
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Duke secured an impressive road victory Tuesday night, knocking off No. 18/20 Louisville 84–73. The Cardinals set the tone early, connecting on four consecutive shots from beyond the arc and piling up 10 three-pointers before halftime. Aly Khalifa led the charge, drilling four triples despite entering the night shooting under 30 percent from deep on the season. Louisville controlled the opening half from start to finish, heading into the locker room with a 47–38 lead while limiting sixth-ranked Duke to 36.4 percent shooting.
Playing without key pieces and facing No. 3 Duke, Texas Tech dug itself a 17-point hole in the second half before flipping the script entirely. The Red Raiders surged back to pull off an 82-81 upset, one of the most eye-opening wins in college basketball this season. Christian Anderson powered the rally with 23 of his 27 points after halftime, while JT Toppin fought through foul trouble to finish with 19. LeJuan Watts added 20 points as Texas Tech (9-3) found a way to overcome the absence of injured center Luke Bamgboye. Duke (11-1) received 23 points from Cameron Boozer and 13 from Cayden Boozer, but a prolonged scoring drought late opened the door for Texas Tech to close strong and seal the win.
EAST LANSING, Mich. — No. 4 Duke escaped with a hard-earned 66–60 win over No. 7 Michigan State on Saturday, a matchup that carried the energy of a deep March tournament game. Cameron Boozer powered the Blue Devils with 18 points — 16 of them after halftime — and pulled down 15 rebounds. Duke improved to 10–0, its strongest start since opening 11–0 in the 2017–18 season. Neither team gained much separation as both defensive pressure and missed open looks kept the score tight. The lead changed hands nine times in the second half, with the teams pulling even on four occasions. Isaiah Evans nudged Duke ahead 55–53 with just under four minutes to go. Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears answered by sinking two free throws at the 1:59 mark to tie the game, but Boozer responded at the line moments later to give Duke the edge for good. Evans then drew a foul on a 3-point attempt and knocked down all three free throws, stretching the lead to 60–55. Carson Cooper converted a layup with 46 seconds remaining to bring the Spartans within three, but they wouldn’t get any closer. Cooper finished with 16 points and a career-best 16 rebounds to lead Michigan State (8–1), while Jaxon Kohler added 14 points and seven boards.
DURHAM, N.C. — Isaiah Evans drained a go-ahead 3-pointer with just under 20 seconds remaining, helping No. 4 Duke escape with a 67–66 win over No. 15 Florida on Tuesday night in the ACC/SEC Challenge. Evans had missed all seven of his earlier attempts from deep, but the sophomore delivered when it mattered most—answering a clutch 3 from Florida’s Boogie Fland that had put the Gators ahead 66–64 with 34 seconds to play. His make preserved Duke’s perfect start, pushing the Blue Devils to 9–0 in dramatic fashion. Florida (5–3) had one last chance with 1.4 seconds on the clock, but Maliq Brown deflected Thomas Haugh’s long inbound attempt, allowing the final seconds to expire and igniting a deafening celebration inside Cameron Indoor Stadium. Freshman standout Cameron Boozer continued his strong opening season with 29 points to lead Duke. Evans added 13 points and registered a career-best five blocks as part of Duke’s 11 total swats. Haugh led the Gators with 24 points, spearheading a huge rebounding effort that nearly flipped the game. Florida dominated the boards 44–33, including a 20–11 edge on the offensive glass, which helped generate 13 second-chance points after halftime. The matchup carried historical weight as well. It marked the first time since February 1996—when Duke hosted UCLA—that the Blue Devils faced a defending national champion in nonconference play at Cameron. The night also featured an unusual look: Duke took the floor in black uniforms as part of a planned home “blackout” theme.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Losses don’t usually offer as much insight as victories, but Arkansas came out of Thursday’s 80–71 defeat to No. 4 Duke with a stronger sense of its identity and progress. FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Losses don’t usually offer as much insight as victories, but Arkansas walked away from Thursday’s matchup with a clearer understanding of its growth, even in an 80–71 loss to No. 4 Duke. The Razorbacks battled the Blue Devils nearly the entire way at the CBS Sports Thanksgiving Classic in Chicago, keeping the game tight until the closing minutes when Duke pulled away for the win behind its depth and steady pace.
Cameron Boozer leads No. 5 Duke past Howard 93–56 DURHAM, N.C. — Cameron Boozer posted 26 points and 12 rebounds as No. 5 Duke cruised to a 93–56 victory over Howard on Sunday. Patrick Ngongba II contributed 16 points on 8-of-9 shooting, while Isaiah Evans added 11 points for the undefeated Blue Devils (7–0). Duke’s offense was on fire, shooting over 70% from the floor midway through the game and finishing at 67.7%. Boozer also hit two of Duke’s seven 3-pointers, going 10-of-12 overall. For Howard (3–4), Bryce Harris scored 15 points—below his season average of 22—and Travelle Bryson added 13, as the Bison aimed to notch consecutive wins for the first time this season.
Duke Outlasts Kansas in Champions Classic Showdown, 78–66 Fifth-ranked Duke emerged from a tight battle with No. 24 Kansas on Tuesday night, pulling away late for a 78–66 victory at Madison Square Garden. Although the final score suggests a comfortable win, the matchup stayed within one possession deep into the second half. Kansas trimmed Duke’s lead to 67–64 after a Melvin Council Jr. three-pointer with just under five minutes left. That would be the Jayhawks’ last basket until the final minute, as their offense hit a cold spell during the most critical stretch of the night. Duke’s Cam Boozer and Isaiah Evans capitalized, delivering key plays to close out the game. Boozer paced the Blue Devils (5–0) with an 18-point, 10-rebound performance, while Evans contributed 16 points. Boozer’s driving finish with 1:33 to go pushed the margin back into double digits and effectively sealed the win. Kansas briefly held control in the first half, going up 26–21 before standout big man Flory Bidunga was sidelined after collecting his second foul. Duke used that window to surge ahead, outscoring KU 20–7 to take a 41–33 halftime advantage. Still missing freshman guard Darryn Peterson for a third straight outing, Kansas leaned on Tre White’s 22 points, along with 15 from Bidunga and 14 from Council. Perimeter shooting proved costly, however, as the Jayhawks went just 4-for-21 from long range—an issue that ultimately swung the game in Duke’s favor.
Boozer Scores 35; No. 4 Duke Defeats Indiana State, 100-62. DURHAM, N.C. – No. 4 Duke men's basketball powered past Indiana State, 100-62, on Friday, Nov. 14 at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Cameron Boozer scored 23 first-half points en route to 35 points, matching the second-highest point total by a Duke freshman. Boozer reeled in 12 rebounds for a double-double and added five assists, three steals and three blocks. Boozer matched Zion Williamson and Jared McCain for the second-most points by a Duke freshman and became just the third Duke player in the last 45 years to have at least 35 points in a double-double performance. Boozer joins Williamson versus Syracuse (35 points, 10 rebounds) on Jan. 14, 2019, and Christian Laettner versus Charlotte (37 points, 11 rebounds) on Dec. 1, 1990. The Blue Devils (4-0) also saw Caleb Foster and Dame Sarr reach double-figures, with 14 and 10, respectively. Five different players finished with multiple assists, with Boozer joined by Nikolas Khamenia with a game-high five dimes, while Isaiah Evans logged three helpers and Foster, Patrick Ngongba II and Maliq Brown each registered a pair. On defense, Duke blocked 13 shots and held Indiana State to 22-of-61 (.361) shooting. The Blue Devils also swiped 13 steals and forced a total of 18 turnovers.
Duke Basketball Starts Strong: Key Takeaways from the Blue Devils’ Early Season Duke (2-0) opened its season with a 75-60 victory over Texas in the Dick Vitale Invitational on Nov. 4. Isaiah Evans led the way with 23 points, while freshman Cameron Boozer posted a second-half surge with 15 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for a double-double. The Blue Devils followed that up with a dominant 95-54 home opener against Western Carolina on Nov. 8 at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Boozer again starred, recording 25 points, eight assists, and five rebounds. After two games, the freshman is averaging a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds per contest, signaling a strong start to the season for Duke.
Women's basketball
Duke controlled the game from the opening tip, building an early lead and never relinquishing it in a convincing win over No. 13 Notre Dame in ACC play. Entering the matchup as a 7.5-point favorite, the Blue Devils delivered on expectations with a balanced and efficient offensive performance. Duke shared the ball early, with all five starters scoring in the first quarter. The Blue Devils shot 57% from three-point range and 65% from the field in the opening period, setting the tone offensively. Notre Dame, coming off an overtime loss at Georgia Tech on New Year’s Day, struggled to generate consistent looks in the first half. The Irish finished the half shooting 50% on 28 field-goal attempts, trimming Duke’s lead to nine just before halftime on a momentum-shifting buzzer-beating three. Delaney Thomas recorded a double-double for Duke, while Taina Mair led all scorers with 23 points, shooting a perfect 4-for-4 from beyond the arc and 5-for-5 at the free-throw line. Duke continues conference play on the road Thursday, Jan. 8, traveling to California for a 6 p.m. tipoff. Notre Dame returns home to face Boston College at 6 p.m. Thursday, looking to snap a two-game ACC losing streak.
Even though Duke entered the matchup at 3–6, the record doesn’t really reflect the level of competition it has faced. Five of the Blue Devils’ first nine opponents were nationally ranked, including powerhouse programs South Carolina, UCLA, and LSU — all sitting in the top five. Aside from turnover issues, Duke put together a solid performance. Defensively, the Blue Devils disrupted Virginia Tech’s flow for long stretches and made clean looks difficult. Toby Fournier led Duke with 19 points and nine rebounds, adding four blocks in an impressive all-around outing. “They’ve got size, length, and physicality,” Duffy said. “They take away a lot of your usual spots.” Taina Mair was another major factor, finishing with 17 points and creating havoc on defense. She recorded six steals — matching her season mark for the third time. Her career-best still dates back to her collegiate debut at Boston College against UMass Lowell.
DURHAM, N.C. — Fifth-ranked LSU continued its unbeaten start on Thursday, powering past Duke 93–77 in the ACC/SEC Challenge. Flau’jae Johnson led a well-balanced Tigers attack with 18 points, one of six LSU players to reach double figures. MiLaysia Fulwiley chipped in 16 points as LSU (9–0) saw its streak of eight straight 100-point outings — an NCAA record — come to a close. Even so, the Tigers were efficient, hitting nearly 60% from the field, dominating the paint with 52 inside points, and needing only five made threes to approach the 100 mark again. Ashlon Jackson paced Duke (3–6) with 16 points. It’s been a rough early stretch for the Blue Devils, who opened the season as the ACC preseason favorite and ranked No. 7 nationally. Thursday’s defeat marked their fourth loss in a row, with the previous three coming to top-five opponents South Carolina, UCLA, and now LSU — each by at least 16 points. LSU entered the night leading the country in scoring (112.0), field goal percentage (.555), three-point percentage (.444), and rebounding margin (+25), numbers built largely against a schedule filled with lower-tier opponents. Even after falling behind 14–1 and going more than three minutes without a basket, the Tigers’ firepower quickly surfaced. They erupted for 31 points in the second quarter on 61.9% shooting to take over the game, despite committing 18 turnovers along the way. Duke shot an efficient 50% from the floor, but couldn’t match LSU’s relentless offense down the stretch.
LAS VEGAS — Gabriela Jaquez poured in 23 points to help No. 3 UCLA cruise past Duke 89–59 on Thursday night, securing third place at the Women’s Players Era Championship. Coming off their first defeat of the season — a 76–65 loss to No. 2 South Carolina — the Bruins responded with a blistering start despite being without standout center Lauren Betts, who injured her left arm the previous night. UCLA (7–1) exploded for a 30–7 lead after the opening quarter, hitting 60% of its shots and knocking down five of seven attempts from beyond the arc. Their defensive pressure also rattled the Blue Devils (3–5), generating six turnovers in the early going. By halftime, the Bruins had stretched the margin to 43–25 while holding Duke to just 28.1% shooting over the first 20 minutes.
TAMPA, Fla. — Before tipoff, one USF supporter held up a sign joking that the Blue Devils wouldn’t make it out of Tampa. By the end of the night, the message felt fitting. On their third straight road trip, Duke couldn’t keep pace with a red-hot South Florida squad, dropping an 85–72 decision inside a loud and energized Yuengling Center. Senior guard Taina Mair reached a major milestone with 19 points, pushing her career total past 1,000, but her performance wasn’t enough to overcome the team’s tough night on offense. The Blue Devils shot just 23.5% from long range and 62.1% at the line, and defensive miscues allowed the Bulls to control the game from early on.
The Blue Devils pulled out a 71-57 victory over host Liberty, due in large part to converting the Lady Flames' 25 turnovers into 26 points and limiting the home team to 39.6 percent from the field.
Duke’s starting five showcased their leadership by the end of the third quarter, seamlessly mixing fast-paced plays with calmer sequences to extend the Blue Devils’ lead over Norfolk State to 58-26. Even with the starters’ strong performance, the game was truly a team effort. By the final buzzer, Duke’s bench contributed 41 points—nearly matching the starters’ total. Norfolk State offered an opportunity for Roberson and Skinner to ease back into game action following injuries, shine in their debuts, and give fans an early look at their potential impact. Additionally, fans caught a glimpse of true freshman Anna Wikstrom, who scored four points in limited minutes, including a breakaway layup just before halftime. When Duke’s leading scorer, Fournier, exited the game following two technical fouls involving her and Norfolk’s Da’brya Clark, Donovan stepped up to carry the scoring load. By the end of the game, every player on Duke’s 11-person roster had logged at least a minute on the court, contributing to an emphatic 83-32 victory. “We place a high value on depth in our program. We like to give a lot of players time to contribute,” Lawson said.
Duke Rebounds with Commanding 91-48 Win Over Holy Cross After a tough loss to Baylor in Paris, Duke returned to form with a convincing 91-48 victory over Holy Cross. Toby Fournier led the charge, posting 27 points and hauling in 9 rebounds. Jordan Wood contributed 19 points along with 9 boards, while Ashlon Jackson chipped in 15 points. The Blue Devils were sharp from the floor, shooting 50% overall and connecting on 12 of 23 attempts from beyond the arc. In contrast, Holy Cross struggled offensively, making just 19 of 67 shots (28%) and hitting 8 of 25 threes (32%), a clear indicator of their struggles to find rhythm. Coach Kara Lawson praised her team’s performance: “I thought it was a well-balanced effort. We had four players in double figures, and we nearly had four players pulling down double-digit rebounds—just shy by one each. Jordan Wood was fantastic early, knocking down threes and setting the energy for us, while Toby Fournier dominated inside as we’ve come to expect. There were a lot of strong contributions, but those two in particular really helped us get off to a strong start.”