Duke’s 40-point exhibition victory reveals unexpected new scoring threat

Duke’s 40-point exhibition victory reveals unexpected new scoring threat originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Duke basketball fans expected to see plenty of talent when the Blue Devils opened their preseason Thursday night.They probably didn’t expect two players to share the scoring lead in such impressive fashion. Sophomore Dame Sarr and freshman Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje each scored 19 points as No. 2 Duke defeated Belmont 102-62 at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

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The 40-point victory was an encouraging start for Jon Scheyer’s team. But Boumtje Boumtje’s performance might be one of the most interesting developments coming out of the exhibition. The freshman demonstrated that Duke’s depth could become a significant problem for opposing teams.

Boumtje Boumtje provides early offensive surprise

Duke entered the exhibition with considerable attention surrounding its returning players and highly regarded newcomers. Boumtje Boumtje made sure he wasn’t overlooked. The freshman finished with 19 points and seven rebounds, matching Sarr for the team lead in scoring. His performance offered an early indication that Duke could receive meaningful contributions from several different players throughout the season.

Patrick Ngongba II also collected seven rebounds and led the Blue Devils with four assists. The balanced production was encouraging for a team that will continue experimenting with combinations during the preseason.

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Duke placed five players in double figures. That offensive balance could become especially important when opponents focus their defensive attention on the Blue Devils’ most established scoring options.

MORE: Duke’s biggest preseason advantage could be the players fans already know

Duke shows impressive depth despite injuries

The Blue Devils played without Caleb Foster and Drew Scharnowski, creating additional opportunities for other players. They responded by scoring 49 points in the first…

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Publish date : 2026-10-09 11:27:00

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