Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball Pulls Off Jon Scheyer's Biggest Comeback Win

Defense powered a 15-point Duke basketball advantage in the second half at Louisville.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball forward Cooper Flagg versus Louisville
Duke basketball forward Cooper Flagg versus Louisville / Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images
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Prior to Sunday night's 76-65 road win over the Louisville Cardinals in a KFC Yum! Center that has been quite friendly to Blue Devil comebacks — play back Zion Williamson & Co.'s sudden bounceback from 23 down late in the 2019 classic showdown — the Blue Devils hadn't overcome a deficit of 14 points or more in victory since climbing back from 16 points to beat Boston College in January 2021.

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So, by recovering from a 30-16 Louisville lead with 8:36 left in the first half to the tune of a 60-35 rally the rest of the way, the No. 9-ranked Blue Devils (7-2, 1-0 ACC) recorded the biggest comeback win across the three seasons of Jon Scheyer's tenure as head coach.

Duke freshman guard/forward Cooper Flagg and junior forward Maliq Brown led a relentless Blue Devil defensive attack that eventually wore down the Cardinals (5-4, 0-1 ACC), who shot 3-for-15 from three in the second half after knocking down half of their 16 attempts before the break.

And Scheyer's bunch made up for its 8-for-30 clip beyond the arc across both halves by outscoring Louisville in the paint, 34-14, and in transition, 12-3.

Flagg tallied a team-high 20 points and 12 rebounds, adding one assist, two steals, and one block before fouling out with under a minute to play and the Duke basketball victory well in hand.

Brown scored only six points in his 29 minutes off the bench. However, he shot 3-for-3 from the field, and each of his makes was of the momentum-building variety in the second half as the Blue Devils posted a 24-6 run in just over six minutes of action to take a 68-57 lead at 5:42 mark. He also delivered 11 rebounds, one assist, one block, and a game-high three steals.

The Blue Devils now head back to Durham for a home bout against the Incarnate Word Cardinals (5-4, 1-1 Southland) at 7 p.m. ET Tuesday (ACC Network).

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Stay tuned to Duke Blue Devils On SI for more Duke basketball news.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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