Duke rebounds with 43-point win over SIU Edwardsville

Duke answered its first defeat of the season with a decisive home victory, improving to 3-1. The Blue Devils led 43-20 at halftime after an 11-0 run, and have won all three games at Cameron Indoor Stadium by at least 34 points.

Patrick Ngongba II paced Duke with 13 points and nine boards. Foster and Sarr each contributed 12 points, while Cayden Boozer recorded 11 points and a career-best 10 rebounds. Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje and Sebastian Wilkins also scored 11 apiece.

Foster made three three-pointers during Duke’s 25-6 opening stretch. He finished with 12 points, though the Blue Devils made just nine of 29 attempts from beyond the arc. Boumtje Boumtje, a freshman, also had nine rebounds and showed more intent to attack near the basket.

John Blackwell, Duke’s Wisconsin transfer, did not score until the second half. He had scored 17 points in Tuesday’s 79-73 loss to No. 5 Michigan State, and is still settling into a leading scoring role.

SIU Edwardsville fell to 2-3. The Cougars made three of 22 three-point attempts and committed 19 turnovers. Duke hosts No. 3 Illinois on November 17; SIUE’s next game is at North Dakota on November 16.