Duke Escapes With Gritty Win Over Georgia Tech in ACC Opener
This wasn’t the bounce-back performance Duke fans were hoping for. Coming off their first loss of the season to Texas Tech at Madison Square Garden, the Blue Devils returned to Cameron Indoor with expectations of a statement win. Instead, they found themselves in a dogfight against a Georgia Tech team that came in ranked 134th at KenPom-and for long stretches, looked anything but overmatched.
Yes, Duke extended its streak to 19 straight wins in ACC openers, but this 85-79 victory was far from comfortable. The Yellow Jackets came out swinging, silencing the Cameron crowd early and heading into halftime with a 43-39 lead.
And it wasn’t just a hot start-it was a full-on offensive eruption. Georgia Tech shot over 70% from the field well into the second half, torching a Duke defense that had been among the nation’s stingiest coming into the night.
Let’s put that in perspective: Duke had been holding opponents to just 34% shooting on the season. That’s elite territory. But for nearly 25 minutes, Georgia Tech looked like the more composed, more efficient team-getting to their spots, finishing around the rim, and controlling the tempo.
That’s when Jon Scheyer made the adjustment that changed the game.
Around the 16-minute mark of the second half, Duke switched into a zone defense. It wasn’t flashy, but it was effective.
The change disrupted Georgia Tech’s rhythm just enough to swing momentum back toward the Blue Devils. From that point on, Duke outscored the Yellow Jackets 46-36, finally establishing some control in a game that had felt like it was slipping away.
Offensively, it was the Boozer twins who carried the load-and then some. The duo combined for 39 points and 17 rebounds, with Cayden Boozer making his first career start and looking every bit ready for the moment. His energy in transition and effort on the defensive end stood out, especially in a game where Duke desperately needed someone to set the tone.
It wasn’t pretty. In fact, there were stretches where it was downright ugly.
But for a young Duke team still finding its identity, the ability to gut out a win when things aren’t clicking is a sign of growth. Georgia Tech may not be a heavyweight, but conference play has a way of testing even the most talented teams in ways the non-conference slate doesn’t.
Every possession matters, every adjustment counts.
Next up, Duke hits the road for a tough early-January test at Florida State. If this win taught us anything, it’s that the Blue Devils still have some wrinkles to iron out-but they’re also learning how to win when the game doesn’t go according to script. And in the ACC, that’s a skill you can’t put a price on.