With just over six minutes to play in the first regular-season clash between Duke and North Carolina, sophomore center Patrick Ngongba II picked up his fifth foul-and just like that, he was done for the night. It was a pivotal moment in a game that had already been defined by foul trouble for the Blue Devils, and it forced head coach Jon Scheyer to dig deeper into his bench earlier than he would’ve liked.
The foul issues weren’t exactly a surprise. By halftime, Duke’s frontcourt trio of Ngongba, freshman Cameron Boozer, and senior Maliq Brown had already combined for seven fouls. That’s a tough spot to be in against any opponent, let alone your biggest rival in a game where every possession feels like it’s played under a magnifying glass.
Ngongba’s night never really got off the ground. He finished with just four points, seven rebounds, and one assist before fouling out.
And while those numbers aren’t eye-popping, it was the timing and nature of his fouls that drew the most attention-both from the crowd and from social media. When your fifth foul comes in a tight rivalry game, fans are going to notice, and they did.
The game itself had all the intensity you’d expect from Duke-UNC. It was physical, emotional, and full of momentum swings.
But for Duke, the fouls weren’t just a subplot-they were a central theme. Even with the Tar Heels never taking the lead before Ngongba exited, Duke’s grip on the game felt increasingly fragile as their big men racked up whistles.
Boozer, to his credit, adjusted. After picking up two early fouls and being limited to nine points in the first half, the freshman found his rhythm.
He surged to a 24-point total by the time Ngongba fouled out and, perhaps more importantly, managed to stay out of further foul trouble. That kind of in-game maturity from a freshman in a rivalry setting is no small thing.
Brown, on the other hand, had a tougher go. With Ngongba sidelined, the senior was asked to shoulder more minutes, and that came with more fouls.
He struggled to stay disciplined defensively, and while his effort was there, the whistles kept coming. It’s the kind of game that tests a veteran’s poise, and Brown found himself in a tough spot.
When Ngongba fouled out, Duke was clinging to a 62-55 lead. From there, the mission was simple: stay composed, avoid unnecessary fouls, and execute offensively.
With the Tar Heels still chasing their first lead of the night, the Blue Devils had the advantage. But in a rivalry where momentum can flip in a heartbeat, nothing is guaranteed.
For Jon Scheyer and his squad, this game was a reminder of just how fine the margins can be in ACC play-especially when emotions run high and foul trouble looms large.