The exam season may be behind, but Duke’s defense just passed another crucial test.
In their final home nonconference game, the No. 5 Duke Blue Devils faced a significant challenge from a formidable George Mason defense. Despite the Patriots’ stout effort, Duke secured a 68-47 victory, bolstered by a powerful offensive surge in the second half and a consistently dominant defensive performance. Duke head coach Jon Scheyer was full of praise for George Mason, recognizing their resilience and skill: “I thought it was a really good win for us. A ton of respect for Tony Skinn and George Mason … They lost two games they either should have won or could have won. They’re experienced, incredibly well-coached, disciplined.”
As both teams entered halftime, it was clear the game was shaping up to be a defensive battle, just as expected. After the first ten minutes, both teams were shooting at a mere 25% from the field, with George Mason struggling particularly with shooting, failing to make a single three-pointer compared to Duke’s four. Neither team was able to establish a strong lead, as both elite defenses were on full display in Cameron Indoor Stadium.
The Blue Devils (9-2, 1-0 ACC) came out in the second half with renewed intensity. Their defense remained impressive, with Cooper Flagg and Khaman Maluach wreaking havoc in the paint, altering shots and forcing George Mason to settle for contested three-pointers. But the real turning point came from Duke’s offense, which quickly began to heat up. In just over three minutes into the second half, Duke had already added 11 points to its total. This scoring run culminated in a corner three-pointer from Tyrese Proctor, prompting George Mason’s head coach Tony Skinn to call a timeout with 16:37 left in the game.
Despite building a comfortable lead, Duke didn’t let up. They switched to a full-court press, aiming to wear down the fatigued Patriots. Flagg, who had struggled offensively in the first half, found his rhythm, scoring six points before the first media timeout in the second half. “It’s obviously good to see the first couple go through. I wish I could do that every time … It’s not gonna be perfect every single day,” Flagg reflected. “So, just gotta keep trusting the work, trusting all the hours I put in and the extra work with my coaches.”
Duke stretched its lead to 40-20, but George Mason (7-4) fought back, mounting a 6-0 run. This forced Scheyer to call another timeout to regain control. The Blue Devils, however, began to show signs of fatigue, with several turnovers and missed shots leading to a temporary loss of momentum. At one point, Duke went more than five minutes without scoring, and several possessions were squandered due to careless ball-handling. A tough layup by George Mason’s Giovanni Emejuru over Maliq Brown energized the Patriot fans in attendance, but their cheers were quickly silenced as Duke responded. Isaiah Evans hit a wide-open three-pointer to extend the lead to 47-30, and a subsequent triple from Evans kept George Mason at bay.
The tempo remained high in the final stretch, but Duke managed to hold its ground and finish with a comfortable victory, though the scoreline didn’t fully reflect the challenges faced during the game. “The score may look like there’s a big margin, but it didn’t feel easy to me,” Scheyer admitted. “I felt every possession in this game was a fight, and it was hard to gain separation, which we finally did in the second half there. But I think it’s a credit to our defense, to the competitive spirit of our guys.”
George Mason entered the game with the 16th-ranked 3-point defense in the country, according to KenPom, but Duke’s shooters didn’t seem to be fazed. Flagg and Proctor each hit a three-pointer early in the game, and Duke continued to generate open looks through sharp ball movement. However, after the initial success, the Blue Devils faced a much tougher challenge. They went cold, missing 11 consecutive shots, including several easy layups. George Mason’s defense was relentless, forcing Duke to take difficult shots, and denying drives to the basket. The Patriots’ defense began to stifle Duke’s offense, with the Blue Devils struggling to find clean looks.
On the other end, George Mason started to find its rhythm. The Patriots hit their first three-pointer of the game, courtesy of K.D. Johnson, and followed it up with a layup to narrow Duke’s lead to 20-16. As the first half wore on, Duke’s offense remained out of sync, unable to break free from the tight defensive pressure applied by George Mason.
Despite the struggles offensively, Duke had a strong defensive presence throughout the game. The return of junior forward Maliq Brown, who had missed the previous game due to a toe injury, added significant value to the Blue Devils’ defense. Brown’s hustle plays and physicality in the paint were crucial in keeping George Mason from getting easy points. He was particularly effective with a steal in the first half, which he converted into a fast-break assist to Mason Gillis, even as he was falling out of bounds.
Though the first half saw its fair share of frustrations for Duke’s offense, they were ultimately able to regain their composure and find a rhythm in the second half. The Blue Devils’ defense remained a constant throughout the game, stifling George Mason’s offense and creating scoring opportunities for their own players. In the end, it was Duke’s ability to turn defense into offense and outlast the Patriots that sealed the victory.
Overall, while the score may suggest a one-sided game, it was a hard-fought battle. Duke showed resilience and teamwork, proving that their defense and depth were more than enough to overcome the tough test posed by George Mason. The Blue Devils continue to build on their success, with a well-balanced performance that highlights both their offensive potential and their defensive prowess.
