No. 5 Duke outlasted No. 24 Kansas 78-66 in a gritty Champions Classic showdown on November 18, 2025, at Madison Square Garden, extending the Blue Devils’ unbeaten streak to 5-0 and snapping a three-game skid against the Jayhawks dating back to 2019, while showcasing Jon Scheyer’s maturing squad’s defensive grit and freshman flair in front of 19,327 fans. Cameron Boozer, the heralded Miami commit and son of Duke legend Carlos, led with his second straight double-double—18 points on 7-of-12 shooting, 10 rebounds, and five assists—while Isaiah Evans chipped in 16 points (4-of-6 from three) and Patrick Ngongba II added 13 off the bench, as Duke clamped Kansas scoreless from the floor over the final 4:59 to pull away after a tense second half. For Duke diehards, this ninth Champions Classic triumph—43rd MSG win—highlights Scheyer’s blueprint: a balanced attack averaging 88.4 points (third nationally) on 48.2% field goals (best in ACC), vaulting the Blue Devils into top-tier contender status with a No. 1 offense and No. 12 defense per KenPom.
The game teetered in a first-half slugfest tied at 28-28, but Duke’s 21-7 closing run—fueled by Boozer’s dunk and Evans’ arc—built a 41-33 halftime edge, as Kansas struggled without star freshman Darryn Peterson’s hamstring injury, shooting 37.5% overall (23-of-61) and 25% from deep (6-of-24). Tre White paced the Jayhawks with 22 points and nine boards, but foul trouble sidelined Flory Bidunga early, limiting KU’s interior dominance and forcing 18 turnovers (six in first half, two second). Technically, Duke‘s perimeter defense yielded 0.89 points per possession post-intermission, drawing 26 free throws (21 made) while forcing tough shots, per Synergy Sports—key in a contest where Kansas led in transition early but faded amid depth disparity (Duke’s 11-2 bench edge).
Boozer’s all-around mastery—tying team-highs in points, boards, dimes—evokes Zion Williamson’s freshman impact, positioning him as ACC Rookie frontrunner (22.5 PPG, 10.3 RPG averages), while Scheyer praised his “room to grow” postgame: “It’s as big as any team in the country.” Kansas coach Bill Self lamented: “We ran out of gas without Darryn,” crediting Duke’s athleticism. For bettors, the under 144.5 cashed on 144 points, Duke’s -10.5 cover boosting parlays amid #ChampionsClassic’s 2 million X impressions. Risks: Boozer’s rib bruise from a third-quarter hit could test against Niagara Friday, per reports.
As nonconference wanes, Duke’s 78-66 outlast—9-7 all-time vs. Kansas—epitomizes blue-chip resilience: stack Boozer with Evans for ACC clashes, where outlasting isn’t luck—it’s legacy in Scheyer’s ascending empire.
