Duke basketball posts dominating win over Army

Chip Alexander, The News & Observer on Nov 2, 2026

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DURHAM, N.C. — There was no way Duke’s Deron Rippey Jr., was going to get to the ball on the break.

The pass was too high, too long. The ball was going to sail out of bounds under the Duke basket … until Rippey, showing a burst of speed, somehow got his hands on it just before the end line. The freshman guard quickly made a behind-the-back pass to Dame Sarr for a basket and three-point play as Cameron rumbled.

That was the kind of play Duke fans came to Cameron Indoor Stadium expecting to see Monday as the No. 2 Blue Devils opened the 2026-27 season against Army West Point. Fast, explosive.

The Blue Devils would win the season opener, but it was more of a tough, gritty battle, Duke taking an 84-50 victory as sophomore Dame Sarr had a team-high 16 points and freshman Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje 15.

The oddsmakers made the Blue Devils 44.5-point favorites and they seemed well on their way in the opening minutes, running the floor, dunking, keeping the crowd roaring.

For the record, Patrick Ngongba made Duke’s first basket of the season: a layup to start the game. Boumtje Boumtje had the first dunk, on a lob from Cayden Boozer. The first made 3-pointer would have to wait until the second half, until Boozer connected from the left of the key.

After Duke had reeled off the first 10 points, Sarr with a fast-break, Army coach Kevin Kuwik ordered up a timeout, something to try and slow the basketball carnage.

Ngongba followed with another dunk and it was 12-0 at the first media break.

Duke’s defense in the opening minutes was relentless. Duke’s John Blackwell chased after guard Jaden Ellis as if it was the last possession of the game – of any game. Jacen Holloway, looking to dribble, fought past the 7-2 Boumtje Boumtje to find the 6-11 Ngongba in the way.

Then, patiently, grinding and hustling possession by possession, Army began to claw back into the game. Their offensive actions, complete with some bruising high-post screens, freed up some openings as they ate down the shot clock. Their 2-3 zone was effective enough, causing some indecision by Duke.

Duke had a 33-18 halftime lead and Scheyer likely was not a happy guy during the break. The Devils, after knocking down their first six shots, were 6 for 21 from the field the rest of the half and went 0-9 on 3-pointers.

The second half began much like the first. Ngongba had a dunk off a Sarr feed and then Boozer a driving layup in transition. Duke was off on an 11-0 run that quickly pushed the lead to 44-18.

Was Army done? Not yet. A 12-0 run made it 44-30 game as a torrent of 3’s by the Black Knights applied some game pressure on the Blue Devils.

A 3-point jumper by Rippey ended the Army spurt, and Sarr followed with a conventional 3-point play. The rest of the game was spent watched the two teams battle for loose ball and rebounds and Duke adding to its lead.

Observations from the opener:

Slow night for Blackwell

Duke’s Blackwell had a hard time getting going Monday and getting in the flow of things.

The transfer from Wisconsin had been a steady scorer in the three preseason games and had 23 points in the win at Kansas. But he missed all four shots in the opening half – three on 3’s – and was called for a charging foul trying to bull his way to the basket off the dribble.

In the second half, Blackwell had a Sarr pass hit his leg and bounce out of bounds for a turnover. After missing an open 3 from the corner, Blackwell dropped his head.

Blackwell’s first Duke points, on a corner 3, came with eight minutes left in the game.

For starters ...

For those guessing about Duke’s starting lineup for the first game of the season, the Blue Devils opened with Ngongba, Sarr, Boozer, Blackwell and Boumtje Boumtje, a starter in his first college game.

Senior Caleb Foster got a big hand when he entered the game at the first break. Drew Scharnowski, a Belmont transfer who missed the preseason games recovering from an injury, also received some appreciative cheers when he entered.

By halftime, Duke had used 10 players and Ngongba had the most playing time: 15:32.

Freshman big Cameron Williams made it 11 players early in the second half as Scheyer gave everybody a look in the opener. Williams scored his first Duke points on a second-half lob dunk.

Army dependent on 3’s

Army led the Patriot League in made 3-pointers last season (10.6 a game) and could do it again this season. They have willing shooters and some makers in Kevin McCarthy and Dillon Watts.

The Black Knights missed 13 of 15 from the arc in the opening half. But had more 3’s dropping in the second half, enough to keep a noisy contingent of fans behind the Army bench standing and loud.

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