Jon Scheyer’s No. 3 Duke showed no mercy to the ACC’s newest West Coast addition, cruising to a dominant 106-70 victory over Stanford on Saturday afternoon.
The Blue Devils delivered their best offensive performance of the season. The team surpassed their 100-point game against the Army on Nov. 8. With five players scoring in double figures, Duke overwhelmed the Cardinal, led by Tyrese Proctor’s 23-point effort.
Jon Scheyer Leading Duke’s Strong First Half Sets the Tone
During the post-game press conference, Scheyer shared his view about the team and their performance.
“I thought it was just a great overall game by our guys,” Scheyer said. “I thought the readiness was really good, I think the shots came from great sharing and great pace on offense.”
Stanford (16-10, 8-7 ACC) struggled to keep pace as the game quickly slipped away midway through the first half. A 14-3 Duke run buried the Cardinal, with Khaman Maluach anchoring the defense in the paint. The Blue Devils also controlled the boards, extending their lead to 15 points with eight minutes left before halftime.
Proctor was the catalyst for Duke’s offensive explosion. The junior guard, playing some of his best basketball, consistently attacked the basket and knocked down open three-pointers. He finished the first half with 17 points on 7-for-11 shooting.
Duke (22-3, 14-1 ACC) shot 58.1% from the field and 43.8% from beyond the arc in the first half, demonstrating impressive efficiency. Just as remarkably, they committed only one turnover in the first 20 minutes—a late miscue from freshman Isaiah Evans with 3:20 left. The Blue Devils entered the locker room with a 49-34 advantage.
“I think it’s just Duke basketball,” Cooper Flagg said. “That’s just the standards that we play to, just finding the open man, making the right pass, making the right read. It’s just what we’re trying to do on every possession.”
The Blue Devils picked up right where they left off after halftime, continuing to attack the rim. Sion James opened the half with an and-one finish, while Kon Knueppel added a tough fadeaway jumper. The Cameron Crazies erupted moments later when Flagg and Maluach each threw down highlight-reel dunks.
Duke’s Second-Half Execution Secures Victory
Duke maintained its defensive intensity and offensive firepower, preventing Stanford from mounting any sort of comeback. The three-point barrage also continued, with Maliq Brown sinking his second triple of the season. Flagg and Proctor hit back-to-back threes, pushing Duke’s lead to 88-59 with six minutes remaining—their largest advantage of the game.
Heading into the contest, much was made of the matchup between Maluach and Stanford’s Maxime Raynaud, an All-Conference candidate. Maluach made an immediate impact, forcing a turnover on Stanford’s first possession before finishing an alley-oop on the other end.
Raynaud responded with two early three-pointers, an unusual sight given that he had made just one of his last 15 attempts from deep. However, inside the arc, Duke’s length and defensive pressure troubled him. Maluach, Brown, and Mason Gillis rotated defensive assignments, forcing Raynaud into an 0-for-5 start on two-point attempts.
Despite finishing with 19 points and seven rebounds, Raynaud struggled with efficiency. He took 21 shots, including nine from beyond the arc, and Duke’s defense made every possession difficult.
“Raynaud is a tough cover. They do some really good things for him, but the fact that he scored 19 on 21 shots, that’s really what you want,” Scheyer said.
Maluach and Brown worked seamlessly in the paint, complementing each other’s strengths. Maluach’s presence inside led to several dunks and second-chance points, as four of his six rebounds were offensive. Brown facilitated effectively, setting up Proctor for open looks throughout the game.
Duke’s intensity was evident from the opening tip, forcing Stanford head coach Kyle Smith to call two timeouts in the first eight minutes. The Blue Devils disrupted passing lanes, created deflections, and out hustled their opponents for loose balls.
KEEP READING: Top 10 NIL Deals in Men’s College Basketball: Cooper Flagg the Top Earner
Saturday also marked the return of former Duke player Jaylen Blakes to Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Somerset, N.J., native received a warm ovation from the home crowd during introductions, though his on-court return was less successful. Blakes finished with two points, shooting just 1-for-10 from the field.
Duke will now shift its focus to an upcoming road matchup against Virginia on Monday at 8 p.m.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in football, basketball, and more!
