Duke Shows Grit and Growth in Road Win Over Virginia Tech
This had all the makings of a classic trap game. A Duke squad battling illness, a Virginia Tech team desperate for a résumé-boosting win, and a raucous crowd in Blacksburg where the Hokies had already posted a 12-1 home record. But instead of stumbling, the Blue Devils stayed composed and controlled, walking away with a 72-58 win that was tougher than the final score might suggest - and maybe more telling, too.
Let’s be clear: this was a wire-to-wire win. Duke never trailed, not even for a second.
From the moment Cayden Boozer found Patrick Ngongba II for the game’s opening bucket, the Blue Devils set the tone. They led from start to finish, and while Virginia Tech made its runs, Duke never relinquished control.
That’s a sign of growth.
Shuffling the Deck, Staying Steady
With both Caleb Foster and Dame Sarr under the weather and coming off the bench, Duke’s starting five featured a reshuffled lineup: Cayden Boozer, Cam Boozer, Isaiah Evans, Nik Khamenia, and Ngongba. Not exactly the usual rotation, but it didn’t matter.
Duke’s defense clamped down early, holding the Hokies scoreless for nearly five minutes in the first half. That stretch turned a tight 11-9 game into a 20-9 cushion, and it wasn’t just about effort - it was about execution.
The Blue Devils made Virginia Tech work for every look, forcing them to shoot over length and size, and limiting their ability to get downhill or to the line. Tech finished the night just 5-of-6 from the free-throw stripe.
That’s not a coincidence - that’s discipline.
Head coach Jon Scheyer praised his team’s ability to “make them score over our size and length” and emphasized the importance of limiting easy buckets. The plan was clear: take away dunks, layups, and threes. Check, check, and check.
Cam Boozer Takes Over
Offensively, Duke leaned heavily on Cam Boozer - and he delivered. The freshman phenom poured in 23 points and pulled down eight rebounds, both game highs.
He scored in transition, knocked down a three, threw down a dunk, and hit clutch free throws down the stretch. And when Duke needed to slam the door shut, it was Boozer who did the honors.
After Virginia Tech trimmed the lead to just six points - twice - Boozer responded with five straight: two free throws, a driving layup, and a dagger three. That sparked a 9-0 Duke run that iced the game. Khamenia capped it with a soft floater, and the Hokies didn’t score again for nearly six minutes.
That’s how you close on the road.
Not Pretty, But Effective
This wasn’t a shooting clinic by any means. Duke finished just 5-of-21 from deep, and Virginia Tech wasn’t much better at 7-of-26.
But Duke made its possessions count, especially late, and dominated the glass 33-26. That rebounding edge wasn’t just about size - it was about effort and positioning, especially when the game tightened.
Ngongba added nine points, five boards, and two blocks, while Evans and Maliq Brown chipped in 11 points apiece. Brown, who spoke postgame about the importance of starting strong, backed it up with energy and poise.
One of the unsung heroes? Caleb Foster.
Fighting through illness, the junior guard still managed seven points, seven rebounds, and four assists in 26 gritty minutes. Scheyer didn’t hold back in praising him: “He never runs away from anything.”
Locking Down the Perimeter
One of the more impressive defensive efforts came against Neoklas Avdalas, who came in averaging double figures but was held to just five points on 1-of-8 shooting. Duke’s perimeter defenders hounded him all night, forcing tough shots and denying clean looks. That’s the kind of attention to detail that wins games in February - and beyond.
Another Milestone, But Bigger Goals Ahead
With the win, Duke moves to 20-1 on the season and remains unbeaten in ACC play at 9-0. That’s 24 seasons with 20 wins in the last 25 years - a staggering level of consistency, even by Duke standards.
But this one felt more than just another notch in the win column. It was a test of depth, toughness, and maturity - and Duke passed.
They didn’t need to be perfect. They just needed to be poised.
And on a night when the crowd was loud, the opponent was hungry, and the conditions weren’t ideal, the Blue Devils showed something that doesn’t always show up in the box score: they know how to win.