Duke's March Madness journey continues with a commanding victory, propelling them into the Sweet 16 and setting the stage for a potential run to the Final Four. The top-seeded Blue Devils showcased their prowess with an 81-58 win over No. 9 seed TCU, transforming a neck-and-neck battle into a decisive triumph at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
Locked in a 44-44 tie, Duke unleashed a 37-14 blitz to close out the game, driven by a stellar second-half performance. Cameron Boozer was the catalyst, delivering 19 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, and three steals, with a remarkable 17 points coming after the break.
His efforts were complemented by Isaiah Evans' 17 points, Dame Sarr's 14 points and four 3-pointers, Maliq Brown's near double-double with 12 points and nine boards, and Cayden Boozer's solid nine points and five assists. Patrick Ngongba made a notable return, contributing across the board in limited minutes.
Duke's offensive efficiency was on full display, shooting 55.1% from the field and dominating the boards with a 42-25 rebounding edge. They also excelled at the charity stripe, converting 20 of 23 free throws, and capitalized on second-chance opportunities with a 19-10 advantage.
TCU, despite forcing 17 turnovers and taking 20 more shots, struggled with accuracy, hitting only 33.3% from the floor. Micah Robinson led the Horned Frogs with 18 points, and Xavier Edmonds added 12, but their efforts couldn't overcome Duke's defensive resurgence.
Head coach Jon Scheyer praised his team's resilience and defensive turnaround. "We knew this would be a battle, but our character shone through, especially in the second half," Scheyer remarked.
The game’s turning point came after TCU briefly seized a 40-38 lead early in the second half. Duke responded emphatically, with Cameron Boozer ending a field goal drought and sparking a run that saw TCU limited to 10-of-38 shooting after halftime, including just 2 of 11 from beyond the arc.
The first half was a seesaw affair, featuring 10 ties and seven lead changes. Duke edged ahead 38-34 at the break, thanks to Evans' early scoring burst and Brown's inside presence. TCU hung tough, fueled by Robinson's perimeter shooting and Edmonds' inside work.
Duke's decisive push came after Jayden Pierre tied the game at 44. A series of key plays, including a Cayden Boozer three-point play and a Nikolas Khamenia triple, propelled Duke into a commanding position. TCU's last gasp came with a Robinson 3-pointer narrowing the gap to 57-50, but Duke pulled away again, aided by technical free throws and Sarr's clutch shooting.
By game's end, Duke had outscored TCU 30-8 over the final stretch, showcasing their depth and adaptability. They turned the tables on early struggles, dominating in the paint and on the glass, and securing their largest lead at 25 points with Sarr's final 3-pointer.
With this victory, Duke not only advances but sends a clear message: they're a force to be reckoned with as they march deeper into the tournament.