Duke Dominates Coastal Carolina 113-52 as Patrick Ngongba II Delivers Career Night
Coastal Carolina attempted to challenge Duke, but the Blue Devils responded with an overwhelming performance that left little doubt about their dominance.
No. 2 Duke delivered a commanding 113-52 victory over Coastal Carolina in its second game of the regular season, led by a spectacular career-high 28-point performance from Patrick Ngongba II. The Blue Devils established control early, overwhelmed the Chanticleers with their speed and defensive pressure, and maintained their advantage throughout the contest.
Duke’s defensive effort was particularly impressive, producing 17 Coastal Carolina turnovers and 10 steals while consistently creating opportunities to score in transition.
Duke Starts Fast and Takes Complete Control
The Blue Devils wasted no time establishing their authority, opening the contest with a 16-0 scoring run before Coastal Carolina managed its first basket.
Ngongba got Duke moving with an alley-oop finish inside the paint. Senior guard John Blackwell followed with a jumper, adding to the early offensive momentum.
Head coach Jon Scheyer’s emphasis on quick ball movement was evident from the opening minutes. Duke moved the basketball effectively in transition and in its half-court offense, making it difficult for the Chanticleers to organize their defense.
Sophomore Cayden Boozer connected with Dame Sarr on a fast-break opportunity, allowing the Italian forward to finish with a dunk and extend the advantage.
Sarr quickly made another impact, intercepting a pass near the three-point line before receiving a pass from Sebastian Wilkins and finishing with a layup. The sequence highlighted his growing influence on both ends of the floor.
Blackwell also found his shooting rhythm, knocking down a three-pointer from the right side. The nation’s top transfer finished with 15 points, three rebounds and one assist.
By the time Coastal Carolina finally scored through Trey Perry, four members of Duke’s starting lineup had already contributed to the scoreboard.
Sarr and Duke’s Defense Make Life Difficult
Coastal Carolina frequently looked to Perry for offensive production, but Duke’s defense made his afternoon challenging.
Sarr, an ACC All-Defensive Team selection, played an important role in limiting the 6-foot-1 guard’s opportunities. Perry had scored 20 points in his previous outing but managed only six in the first half against the Blue Devils.
Duke also forced Coastal Carolina into an uncomfortable pace. Although the Blue Devils committed 11 turnovers during the opening half, they forced the Chanticleers into 12 of their own.
Sarr led the defensive effort with three first-half steals, helping Duke repeatedly turn defensive stops into transition opportunities.
The Blue Devils’ Bench Adds More Firepower
Duke’s impressive depth was another major storyline.
Senior guard Caleb Foster entered the game with 13:16 remaining in the first half, marking his 100th collegiate appearance. He immediately made an impact, shooting a perfect 4-for-4 from the field for 10 first-half points.
Wilkins also demonstrated his development as a playmaker while collecting a career-best 11 rebounds.
The first half ended with Foster locating Ngongba near the basket for another emphatic finish. Duke headed into the break with a commanding 54-18 advantage.
Ngongba Delivers a Career Performance
Coastal Carolina struggled to find answers after halftime, particularly with Ngongba continuing to dominate offensively.
The forward’s career-high 28 points included consecutive three-pointers in the second half, demonstrating that his scoring ability extended beyond the paint.
With Duke comfortably ahead, Scheyer also used the opportunity to give his younger players valuable experience.
Freshman center Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje, the only first-year Blue Devil in the starting lineup, had a difficult shooting start. He missed both of his first-half field-goal attempts but converted four free throws.
The 17-year-old eventually found his rhythm, connecting on his first three-pointer after receiving a pass from Boozer with 7:51 remaining.
Another freshman, Deron Rippey Jr., provided an exciting moment when he converted an acrobatic finish despite falling toward the floor after contact from Perry.
Rippey completed the three-point play and received one of the loudest reactions from the Duke crowd.
Reflecting on the play and his development, Rippey said:
“We were playing through contact in practice. I just tried to attack the rim as hard as I can, and I ended up getting the finish,” Rippey said. “Every day I get more comfortable. Coaches are letting me know what I got to do to be a better point guard, and I’m working on that every day.”
Duke’s Freshmen Close Out the Rout
The final minutes provided another opportunity for Duke’s young talent to showcase its potential.
Scheyer deployed a lineup consisting entirely of freshmen, including Wilkins, Rippey, Bryson Howard, Maxime Meyer and Cameron Williams.
Howard, Rippey and Williams each connected from beyond the arc, while Meyer contributed an assist on Howard’s final layup.
The young group successfully completed the assignment, helping Duke finish its dominant performance with a 61-point victory.
What’s Next for Duke?
The Blue Devils now turn their attention to a much tougher challenge.
Duke will travel to Chicago on November 10 to face No. 6 Michigan State in the State Farm Champions Classic.
After opening the season with two convincing victories, including this 113-52 demolition of Coastal Carolina, the Blue Devils will enter that highly anticipated matchup with confidence.
Ngongba’s career night, Sarr’s defensive impact, Blackwell’s scoring and the emergence of Duke’s freshmen all provided reasons for optimism as the Blue Devils prepare for their next major test.