Duke Blue Devils Pull Away From Lipscomb Bisons To Improve To 11-0
It wasn’t pretty, folks. In fact, for the first 20 minutes inside Cameron Indoor Stadium, it was downright ugly. But in the end, history was made. Head Coach Jon Scheyer secured his 100th career victory as the No. 3 Duke Blue Devils overcame a sluggish, turnover-riddled start to dismantle the Lipscomb Bisons 97-73.
Scheyer reached the century mark in just 122 games, smashing the ACC record previously held by Vic Bubas (128 games) and becoming the second-fastest coach in Division I history to hit that milestone in the last 45 years.
If you only saw the final score, you might think this was business as usual for an 11-0 squad. You’d be wrong.
A First Half To Forget
Let’s be real: Duke looked like they had been on vacation since their win against Michigan State over a week ago. The rust wasn’t just visible; it was thick enough to scrape off with a putty knife.
The Blue Devils committed a staggering 16 turnovers in the first half alone. At one point, they were on pace for 40 giveaways. The Lipscomb Bisons, undersized but scrappy, smelled blood in the water. They capitalized on Duke’s carelessness, ripping off a 10-0 run and even holding a 39-33 lead late in the half.
The tension in Durham was palpable. You could practically hear the collective groan of the “Cameron Crazies as pass after pass sailed out of bounds or into the hands of a defender. It was sloppy, uninspired, and frankly, a little worrying for a team with national title aspirations.
Thankfully for Scheyer’s blood pressure, the Blue Devils woke up just in time to take a slim 48-45 lead into the locker room, courtesy of a buzzer-beating tip-in from freshman phenom Cameron Boozer.
The Boozer and Evans Show
Whatever was said in that locker room worked wonders. Duke came out of the break looking like a completely different animal—sharper, faster, and significantly angrier.
Cameron Boozer, who continues to look less like a freshman and more like a created player in a video game, dropped a casual 26 points and 13 rebounds. Yes, he had a few turnovers early, but when you put up your sixth double-double of the season, a few mistakes are forgiven. The 18-year-old was a force in the paint, and Lipscomb simply didn’t have the size to stop him.
But Boozer wasn’t the only one cooking. Sophomore Isaiah Evans provided the spark that ignited the blowout. His highlight-reel dunk off a steal sent the crowd into a frenzy and pushed the lead to 56-49, effectively breaking Lipscomb’s spirit. Evans finished with 16 points and that signature smooth shooting stroke we’ve come to love.
Domination On the Glass
While the guard play was shaky early on, the big men ate well all night. Duke outrebounded Lipscomb by a comical margin of 55-21. Patrick Ngongba II recorded his first career double-double with 10 points and 11 boards, proving that Duke’s depth in the frontcourt is terrifying for anyone who has to play them.
The second half was a clinic in responding to adversity. The defense tightened up, the turnovers stopped (mostly), and the offense started humming. A tight game turned into a 24-point rout, reminding everyone why this team is ranked third in the nation.
What’s Next For Duke?
With the cobwebs officially dusted off and Scheyer’s milestone secured, the Blue Devils can’t afford another slow start. They head to the bright lights of Madison Square Garden this Saturday to face No. 19 Texas Tech.
It will be a tougher test than Lipscomb, but if Duke plays like they did in the second half, they will be just fine.
