Duke University basketball opened its season with a decisive 84-50 victory over Army at Cameron Indoor Stadium, showcasing a dominant defensive performance that stifled the Black Knights’ offensive rhythm. The Blue Devils established an early 12-0 lead, silencing Army for nearly six minutes before the visitors could find their footing. Despite the lopsided scoreline, head coach Jon Scheyer noted the presence of obvious flaws, yet the team’s ability to control the game’s tempo and limit opponent efficiency remained the defining feature of the opener.
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Statistically, Duke’s defensive effort was the story of the night, holding Army to a dismal 35 percent shooting from the field (18-of-52) and a staggering 27 percent from the free-throw line (8-of-30). The pressure forced Army into 24 turnovers, including at least six shot clock violations, while the Blue Devils dominated the interior. Duke outscored Army 50-20 in the paint and won the rebounding battle 37-25, effectively neutralizing the Black Knights’ disciplined offensive structure. Among Army’s starters, only Kevin McCarthy found consistency, shooting 6-of-11, while his four teammates combined for just 7-of-40.
Offensively, the Blue Devils relied on interior scoring to close the gap, with Dame Sarr leading the team with 16 points and Patrick Ngongba contributing 10 points and seven rebounds. However, Duke’s perimeter shooting was notably absent, as the team failed to make a single three-pointer. This marked the first time since December 30, 1989, that Duke had recorded a game with zero made threes, a historical anomaly that occurred when current head coach Jon Scheyer was just two years old. While the lack of outside scoring raised questions about offensive balance, the sheer volume of defensive stops and paint dominance secured a comfortable 34-point margin of victory.
Source: Yahoo Sports
