TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11 2025 — It was a night steeped in meaning for the Duke Blue Devils: a trip to Army Black Knights at West Point on Veterans Day, honoring legacy, service, and the spirit of college basketball — and Duke didn’t just show up, it dominated.
Before a packed house at Christl Arena (announced attendance 5,326) the Cadets from Army raised a banner in tribute to former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski — a 1969 West Point graduate who cut his coaching teeth at the U.S. Military Academy.
Once the game tipped, however, the Blue Devils made swift and sure work of things. Ranked No. 4 in the nation, Duke never trailed. After trading early buckets, the visitors pulled away late in the first half on a 12–2 run to enter the locker room ahead 49–30.
In the second half, Duke blew the game open. A 17–0 blitz early in the half extended the lead past 35 points and the rout was on. The Devils poured in 65 points in the second half alone — their most under coach Jon Scheyer — and shot a blistering 70 percent (21-of-30) after intermission.
On the stat sheet, Duke’s balance was striking. Freshman guard Dame Sarr exploded for 19 points, hitting 6-of-8 from the field, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc, and recording three steals. Sophomore guard Isaiah Evans chipped in 17 points. Forward Patrick Ngongba II posted 16 points and nine rebounds. Freshman phenom Cameron Boozer added 15 points, nine boards and four assists. Guard Darren Harris buried 5-of-7 triples en route to 15 points.
Defensively, Duke smothered Army’s attack. The Black Knights managed just 21-of-68 shooting overall, and only 12-of-49 from three-point distance, while Duke assisted on 25 of their 37 made field goals and won the rebounding battle 48–27.
Beyond the numbers, the setting amplified the moment: a true road game (not a neutral-site gimmick) for the Blue Devils, played on Veterans Day in front of a military-academy crowd, full of pageantry and respect for service. The build-in storyline of Coach Krzyzewski’s alma mater raising his banner added emotional weight.
And for the Army side, while the final score may sting, the significance of matching up against one of college basketball’s premier programs on this day is not lost. The Black Knights showed early resistance, pulling within 37–28 with about three minutes left in the first half, but simply could not withstand Duke’s surge.
With this one in the books, Duke improves to 3–0 on the season and begins to build the kind of momentum and identity a team with Final Four aspirations needs. Next up: a home matchup Friday night with Indiana State Sycamores, followed by a return to New York in a week for the Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden against No. 25 Kansas Jayhawks.
- In short: On a night meant to honor service and legacy, Duke made sure the basketball world took notice too. A massive win on a massive stage — and a message sent.
