Can Duke Blue Devils' Defense Outshine California Golden Bears at Haas Pavilion?

The Duke Blue Devils, ranked 6th, improved their record to 14-2 with a decisive victory over the California Golden Bears, who now stand at 8-8. The final score of the game was 71-56 in favor of the Devils.

First Half

The first half saw the Blue Devils establish an early lead with a strong offensive showing. Cameron Boozer led the charge for Duke, contributing significantly to their 37-point haul in this period. His performance on both ends of the court was instrumental as he tallied a total of 21 points and grabbed 13 rebounds throughout the game. The Bears struggled to keep pace despite some spirited play from their bench, managing only 30 points by halftime.

Second Half

In the second half, defense became key for Duke as they focused on maintaining their lead. Isaiah Evans stood out defensively with his three blocks and one steal that stifled any momentum California tried to build. The Bears attempted to rally but were consistently thwarted by Duke's defensive prowess and efficient ball movement that resulted in a total of 16 assists for the team.

Despite some aggressive plays from California leading them to draw more fouls than their opponents, they couldn't capitalize enough on these opportunities due to Duke's resilient defense and strategic rebounding efforts which saw them secure a total of 44 rebounds compared to California's 30.

As fans reflect on what went wrong for Duke Blue Devils during brief lapses when they allowed unanswered points from California, it is evident that maintaining focus will be crucial moving forward.

Looking ahead, post-game thoughts about Duke Blue Devils suggest optimism as they prepare for their next matchup against Stanford Cardinal at Maples Pavilion on January 17th at 6:00 PM EST. Fans can catch all the action live on ACC Network.

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