Duke Beats Kansas 78-66 After Strong Late Run in New York

The Duke Blue Devils continued their strong start to the season with an impressive 78-66 victory over the Kansas Jayhawks on Tuesday night in New York. This game was part of the Champions Classic, an early-season matchup featuring some of the biggest names in college basketball. Duke entered the game ranked No. 5, while Kansas came in at No. 24.

The game stayed close for most of the night, but Duke took control late with a powerful 9-0 run. Kansas went more than four minutes without scoring, and Duke used that stretch to secure the win and improve to 5-0 on the season. The loss dropped Kansas to 3-2.

Freshman star Cameron Boozer delivered another strong performance for Duke. He scored 18 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and added five assists, giving him his third double-double of the season. His effort on both ends of the court was a major reason Duke was able to hold off Kansas during the tight moments of the game.

Isaiah Evans was also important for the Blue Devils, scoring 16 points, while Patrick Ngongba II added 13 points. Duke showed strong teamwork throughout the game, especially in the final minutes when the pressure was highest.

Kansas played most of the game without one of their top freshmen, Darryn Peterson, who is dealing with a hamstring injury. Still, the Jayhawks stayed competitive and even cut Duke’s lead to 65-61 with under six minutes remaining.

Tre White led the Jayhawks with 22 points and nine rebounds, nearly completing a double-double of his own. Melvin Council Jr. contributed 15 points and six assists, while Flory Bidunga scored 14 points on efficient shooting, going 7-for-10 from the floor.

However, Kansas struggled badly from the three-point line, shooting only 4-for-21 (19%). Their cold shooting in the final minutes proved costly. After Council’s three-pointer made it 67-64, Kansas did not score another field goal.

A major difference in the game was Duke’s advantage in rebounding. The Blue Devils finished with a 41-30 edge on the boards and grabbed 13 offensive rebounds. Many of these came at key moments, including one by Boozer that led to a crucial three-pointer by Evans late in the game.

Duke also received stronger support from its bench. Four Duke reserves scored, while Kansas had only one bench player contribute points. This led to an 18-5 advantage in bench scoring for Duke.

Rebounding, bench performance, and better late-game execution allowed Duke to pull away even though both teams struggled with outside shooting.

The first half was competitive and featured tough defense on both sides. The teams shot a combined 5-for-24 from three-point range before halftime. Duke ended the half on an 11-3 run, giving them a 41-33 advantage at the break.

Evans hit a three-pointer just before the halftime buzzer, providing Duke with a momentum boost heading into the second half.

The free-throw line also played an important role. Duke made 17 of 26 free throws, while Kansas finished 10 of 14. Over time, those extra points helped Duke maintain control.

For Duke, this win marks their third victory away from home and their second win against a major opponent on a neutral court this season. The Blue Devils continue to look strong and balanced, with young players like Boozer and Evans stepping up in big moments.

Kansas, despite the loss, showed resilience and talent. Once they get healthy—especially with Peterson returning—they should continue to improve. However, they will need to address their shooting struggles and rebounding issues if they hope to compete against top-level teams.