Grizzly bears can run up to 35 miles per hour. On Wednesday night in Berkeley, it may have seemed like Cal could match that pace, keeping up with Duke for much of the first half. But by the end of the night, it was the Blue Devils who were sprinting ahead, leaving the Golden Bears struggling to keep up in a 71-56 ACC showdown.
Halftime arrived at what seemed the worst possible moment for Duke. The Blue Devils had built momentum with a late first-half surge, only to see it vanish in the opening minutes of the second period. Their first eight three-point attempts of the half failed to connect, giving Cal the opening to claw back. The Golden Bears, taking advantage of Duke’s cold shooting, forced seven turnovers and drew six team fouls in just the first six minutes of play, tying the game at 41.
Even in the midst of that early second-half struggle, Duke never allowed Cal to pull ahead. Both teams committed several fouls, but the Blue Devils couldn’t capitalize on the free-throw line, making just three of their first eight second-half attempts. Meanwhile, Cal went 7-for-9, yet Duke’s defensive discipline, particularly on junior Dai Dai Ames, prevented the Golden Bears from seizing the lead. The Chicago native picked up his fourth foul and was forced to the bench, giving Duke a critical window to extend its lead to 56-48.
Nikolas Khamenia, a Studio City native, stepped up when it mattered most. He scored a layup through contact and converted the ensuing free throw to push Duke ahead. On the very next possession, Khamenia added another basket, and a thunderous slam from Cameron Boozer forced Cal head coach Mark Madsen to call a timeout, trying to halt a 10-2 run by the Blue Devils. The pause, however, did little to stop Duke’s momentum.
Cal struggled to respond. A John Camden three-pointer was the only scoring burst they could muster in those minutes. Meanwhile, layups from Caleb Foster and Boozer pushed Duke’s lead to 66-51 with just under six minutes left. Camden, the Golden Bears’ second-leading scorer, fouled out at the 3:26 mark, sealing the fate of Cal’s comeback hopes. Khamenia added a final three-pointer, and the Blue Devils cruised into the final two minutes with a commanding 19-point advantage.
Boozer left the game with 66 seconds remaining, finishing with his eighth double-double of the season, further cementing his role as one of Duke’s most reliable freshman contributors. Isaiah Evans added 17 points, while Khamenia reached double figures in conference play for the first time with 10 points. Cam Sheffield also saw floor time to close out Duke’s fifth conference win of the season, demonstrating the depth Scheyer has cultivated in his roster.
Coach Jon Scheyer made a crucial decision in the lineup that helped the team regain early-season form. After several slow starts using varying lineups, Scheyer returned to the rotation featuring Dame Sarr and Patrick Ngongba II getting the first minutes over Cayden Boozer and Maliq Brown, respectively. This adjustment, particularly in terms of defensive positioning and rebounding presence, allowed Duke to better control the tempo and contain Cal’s offensive threats.
The first half of the game was a battle of attrition. Cal, now 13-5 overall and 1-4 in ACC play, started strong, maintaining a slight edge early on. Both teams struggled from beyond the arc initially, with senior guard Lee Dort leading the Golden Bears’ efforts in the paint. Duke, sitting at 16-1 and 5-0 in the conference, attempted to settle the pace and find its rhythm on both ends of the court. After missing three early three-point attempts, sophomore guard Isaiah Evans connected from deep, cutting Cal’s lead to 13-12 with just over seven minutes played.
Duke’s defense, however, wasn’t content to let Cal control the game. Foster, perhaps inspired by NBA legend Stephen Curry—who was in attendance and watching from the stands—hit a critical three-pointer, giving Duke its first lead of the night with 8:42 remaining. Cal responded with a 12-2 run, reclaiming the lead thanks to a pair of wide-open backdoor dunks. Scheyer was forced to call timeout, regrouping his squad while trailing 27-21.
Dame Sarr halted the bleeding with a three, and Cal’s Camden answered in kind. But Duke found its footing at precisely the right moment. Ngongba knocked down two free throws, Khamenia hit a mid-range jumper, and Evans erupted with a dunk that seemed to swing the energy firmly toward the Blue Devils. He added two more three-pointers as Duke increased the pace, launching a 16-3 run that put the team back in front and gave them a 37-30 lead heading into halftime.
The second half opened with tension as Duke struggled to maintain early momentum. The first four minutes were marked by missed three-point attempts and uncharacteristic sloppiness. Cal pushed the pace and forced turnovers, but Duke’s discipline on defense prevented the Golden Bears from taking the lead. The combination of strategic fouling, smart rotations, and attention to matchups allowed Duke to survive the early jitters.
Khamenia and Boozer then became the catalysts for the Blue Devils’ second-half surge. Khamenia’s ability to finish through contact, paired with Boozer’s presence in the paint and rebounding dominance, created opportunities for easy points in transition. A John Camden three-pointer momentarily slowed the Blue Devils’ momentum, but Duke quickly regained control, with Foster and Evans knocking down key perimeter shots and Sarr controlling the boards.
By the final six minutes, the outcome was no longer in doubt. Duke extended the lead with a mix of fast-break points, mid-range jumpers, and critical free throws. Camden fouled out, and Duke’s bench provided timely support, with Sheffield seeing the floor in the closing minutes. By the final buzzer, Duke’s dominance was clear: a 71-56 win that highlighted the team’s depth, resilience, and ability to adapt under pressure.
This victory marks a significant milestone in Duke’s ACC season. At 5-0 in conference play, the Blue Devils are not only undefeated but demonstrating a capacity to respond to adversity, whether it’s a slow start, missed shots, or a temporary lapse in momentum. Cal, now 1-4 in the ACC, showed flashes of promise, but the inability to maintain consistency ultimately cost them.
Looking ahead, Duke’s West Coast road trip continues on Saturday against Stanford at Maples Pavilion. The team will need to carry forward the lessons from this game—especially the importance of second-half adjustments, defensive discipline, and depth contributions—to maintain their conference dominance. For Cal, the focus will be on bouncing back, tightening perimeter defense, and finding ways to sustain scoring beyond individual bursts.
Individual performances underscored the story of the night. Evans’ 17 points and explosive scoring runs provided the spark, while Khamenia’s 10 points highlighted his ability to rise in conference play. Boozer’s double-double added a foundation of consistency in both scoring and rebounding. Meanwhile, Sarr and Ngongba provided balance, energy, and defensive presence that allowed Duke to recover from the early struggles in the second half.
Scheyer’s coaching was a defining factor. The decision to adjust lineups and rotations, trust the players who had shown early-season promise, and maintain composure during Cal’s runs exemplified why Duke remains a powerhouse in the ACC. The team’s chemistry, ability to respond to adversity, and focus on execution—both offensively and defensively—demonstrated a maturity that bodes well for the remainder of the season.
Ultimately, Duke’s win was more than a scoreboard result. It was a statement: even when the Blue Devils face a tough opponent and a shaky start, their combination of talent, strategy, and resilience can create a decisive turnaround. As the season progresses, this ability to dominate the second half could prove to be a hallmark of their championship aspirations.
Wednesday night’s game will be remembered not just for the 71-56 final score, but for how Duke orchestrated a methodical, dominant response to adversity. With their blend of rising stars, experienced contributors, and strategic coaching, the Blue Devils continue to build momentum, making clear that any team hoping to slow them down will need more than speed—it will take discipline, depth, and the ability to match Duke’s relentless drive through the final buzzer.
