š¤Ā The Duke Blue Devils secured another notch in the win column Tuesday night, grinding out a tough 78-66 victory over the Kansas Jayhawks. While the game may not earn any style points, the result moves Duke to a perfect 5-0 record on the young season, underscoring the team’s ability to win ugly when necessary. The contest was a physical, hard-nosed affair, demanding maximum effort from the Blue Devils roster.
Boozer Battles Through the Defense
Leading the charge for Duke, though not with his most spectacular offensive outing, was forward Cam Boozer. The young star demonstrated his maturity by successfully navigating a defense explicitly designed to stop him. Boozer faced relentless double-teams and aggressive coverage all night, but he proved his worth by finding ways to contribute across the stat sheet.
Boozer finished the night leading the team with 18 points and securing a double-double with 10 rebounds. Perhaps most impressively, he leveraged the attention he received from the defense, dishing out 5 assists, showcasing his playmaking skills and court vision to find open teammates. His ability to impact the game even when his shots weren’t falling easily was a hallmark of his performance.
Supporting Cast Steps Up in Critical Moments
While Boozer anchored the effort, the necessary scoring punch came from a strong supporting cast. Guard Isaiah Evans provided consistent offense, pouring in 16 points to keep the Jayhawks at bay. Meanwhile, Pat Ngongba delivered a crucial contribution inside, adding 13 points.
The balanced attack proved essential in overcoming the defensive focus on Boozer. With multiple players capable of reaching double figures, Duke maintained enough offensive pressure to prevent Kansas from making a decisive run, proving that the Blue Devils’ depth is already a major asset this season.
Kansas’s Resilient Fight
The Kansas Jayhawks, playing without their best player, turned the game into a persistent battle. They refused to concede control and forced Duke to earn every basket and every stop. The contest remained tight and competitive throughout, testament to the Jayhawks’ resiliency and coaching. However, in the end, the Blue Devils’ superior talent and depth proved too much. Kansas ultimately “just didnāt have the guns to outlast Duke” over the full 40 minutes, allowing the Blue Devils to pull away late.
The Blue Devils will now enjoy a couple of days off to recover from the physical encounter. Their next test comes on Friday night when they return to their home court to host Niagara in the first leg of their “Brotherhood Run” of games, aiming to keep the undefeated streak alive for #BlueDevilNation.