No. 2 Duke never let SIU-Edwardsville settle in Friday night, rolling to a 90-47 win in Durham behind a balanced scoring night and a dominant effort from Patrick Ngongba.
Ngongba finished with 13 points, nine rebounds, four assists and five blocks to set the tone for the Blue Devils, who improved to 3-1. Duke got six players into double figures, with Caleb Foster and Dame Sarr adding 12 points apiece. Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje, Sebastian Wilkins and Cayden Boozer each chipped in 11.
Boozer’s night stood out even in a deep box score. The sophomore posted a double-double with 11 points and a career-best 10 rebounds, while also handing out four assists. It was the second double-double of his career, but the first time he reached double figures in both points and rebounds.
SIU-Edwardsville, now 2-3, was led by Gianni Cobb’s nine points.
Duke took control early and spent most of the night stretching the margin. After the teams traded baskets in the opening two minutes, the Blue Devils ripped off a 23-4 run to create separation. Foster finished that burst with a corner 3-pointer in front of the Cougars’ bench after a pass from Ngongba.
The lead ballooned to 43-15 when Boozer hit two free throws with 43 seconds left in the first half. SIU-Edwardsville had 11 turnovers and just eight field goals before halftime, and it never found much rhythm from deep, going 0 of 7 from 3-point range in the half and 3 of 22 for the game. Duke shot 9 of 29 from beyond the arc, good for 31%.
The Blue Devils put the game away for good with an 18-2 surge late in the second half, pushing the margin to 88-45 with 2:25 remaining. That run featured Maxime Meyer’s alley-oop dunk off a feed from Deron Rippey Jr.
Duke controlled the glass 51-33, turned 19 Edwardsville turnovers into 20 points and held a 42-24 edge in points in the paint.
The Blue Devils now turn to a far bigger test, hosting No. 3 Illinois on Tuesday.
In Other News...
Duke Leaves Miami With One Huge Bright Spot And One Bigger Worry
Duke left Hard Rock Stadium with the kind of split result that can define a November afternoon: a 36-25 loss to Miami, but also a milestone performance from Nate Sheppard that stood out even in defeat. The running back broke Dukes single-season rushing record and kept the Blue Devils moving offensively, giving them one clear bright spot to take out of a game that otherwise got away.
Kyon Louds non-contact injury, though, is the kind of development that can linger far beyond one loss. Dukes top cornerback went down during the game, and the timing could hardly be worse with Clemson next on the schedule. For a defense already trying to regroup after Miamis offense found enough room to control the night, Louds status now looms as the bigger concern. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Kept Its NCAA Run Alive With A Thrilling Finish
Dukes NCAA run stayed alive in dramatic fashion, as the Blue Devils edged seventh-seeded Iowa 3-2 in overtime in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Championship. Junior Ashley Stockdale powered the offense with two goals, giving Duke just enough to survive a tense opening-round test and keep its postseason hopes moving forward.
The victory sends Duke to the NCAA quarterfinals for the fourth straight season, a run that reflects how consistently this program has handled the pressure of November hockey. Stockdales overtime finish gave the Blue Devils the kind of breakthrough moment teams chase this time of year, and it leaves Duke with another chance to build on a familiar postseason stage. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Already Has One Flaw That Could Cap This Teams Ceiling
Through the first three games of the season, Duke has already shown one area that could determine how high this group can climb: the three-point line. The Blue Devils have shot just 30.1 percent from deep, and the issue was especially obvious against Michigan State, when they connected on only 7 of 29 tries. With four of last seasons best perimeter shooters gone, the early numbers are not exactly surprising, but they do underline how much shot-making this roster has to replace.
For a team with bigger ambitions, that kind of perimeter inconsistency can shape everything from spacing to late-game options. The good news for Duke is that this is still early, and the coaching staff has time to work through the problem as the season unfolds. Whether the Blue Devils can turn that weakness into a workable strength may end up telling the story of just how far this team can go. [Read more 🡒]