Duke Bounces Back in a Big Way After UNC Loss, Tops Pitt 70-54
After a tough rivalry loss to North Carolina, Duke needed a response - and they delivered one. Despite being without starting center Pat Ngongba, the Blue Devils went on the road and handled business with a 70-54 win over Pitt. It wasn’t just a bounce-back - it was a reminder of the depth and resilience this team can tap into when challenged.
Ngongba, who injured his wrist during the UNC game, was sidelined, forcing head coach Jon Scheyer to shuffle the deck. Sophomore Maliq Brown got the nod at center, and while the lineup was noticeably smaller, Duke found a way to make it work.
Brown, known more for his defensive instincts than his scoring punch, didn’t contribute much offensively - just two points on the night - but his impact on the other end of the floor still matters. That said, his foul trouble in the second half put Duke in a tough spot. With Ngongba out and Brown limited, freshman Cam Boozer was asked to step into an unfamiliar role: guarding Pitt’s bigs.
And Boozer delivered. Scheyer praised the freshman’s maturity and poise postgame, saying, “His consistency and dependability is incredible and I think that’s important that that’s acknowledged.” Boozer’s ability to adapt on the fly and hold his own defensively was a key storyline in the second half.
But let’s talk about the offense - because that’s where Duke really separated itself.
Isaiah Evans, who struggled against UNC, came out firing. He led all scorers with 21 points and was lights-out from beyond the arc, hitting 5-of-6 from deep.
This was the version of Evans Duke fans have been waiting to see more consistently - confident, aggressive, and efficient. His shooting gave the Blue Devils the spark they needed, especially in the second half when Pitt’s early three-point barrage started to cool off.
Caleb Foster also stepped up, showing flashes of that late-game killer instinct we saw in the Louisville game earlier this season. He helped Duke close the door on any Pitt comeback hopes, controlling the tempo and making smart plays down the stretch.
To Pitt’s credit, they hung around in the first half thanks to some hot shooting from deep. That kept things competitive early, but once Duke tightened up defensively and started executing on offense, the Panthers couldn’t keep pace. It’s been a rough season for Pitt, and this game followed a familiar script for them - a strong start, but not enough firepower to finish.
For Duke, this was more than just a win - it was a necessary reset. After a high-profile loss to their biggest rival, they came out on the road, short-handed, and took care of business. That’s the kind of response you want to see from a team with postseason aspirations.
There’s still plenty of season left, and Duke’s rotation is clearly still evolving. But if they can get consistent performances from guys like Evans and Foster, while continuing to develop young players like Boozer, they’ll be a tough out come March - especially once Ngongba is back in the mix.
For now, this was a win they had to have, and they got it - with grit, adjustments, and a little bit of that Duke swagger.