Andy BackstromContributing writerWed, December 17, 2025 at 1:41 AM UTC·3 min readIn the opening 13 minutes of first-half action against Lipscomb Tuesday night at Cameron Indoor Stadium, No. 3 Duke committed 13 turnovers, more giveaways than the undefeated Blue Devils had recorded in any previous game this season.
They gave up 45 points in the opening 20 minutes, the most points Duke has conceded in a half the season and the most points it's allowed at home in any half under fourth-year head coach Jon Scheyer.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOf those 45 points, 21 resulted from Duke's laundry list of turnovers. Lipscomb, which made the NCAA Tournament last season but lost to Vanderbilt 105-61 in this year's opener, led for most of the first half.
The ASUN's Bison seized a lead in the second half, too, but a thunderous, breakaway dunk from Isaiah Evans shook the rust from Duke's nine days of rest.
Duke (11-0) outscored Lipscomb (6-5) 49-28 in the final period, thanks to a pair of timely 3s from Evans and 14 points from Cameron Boozer, who took over the game in the latter portion of play and finished with 26 points, 13 rebounds and 3 assists but also 6 of the Blue Devils' season-high 22 turnovers.
With the victory, Scheyer became the fastest coach to reach 100 career wins in ACC history. He needed just 122 games to do it, six fewer than Duke's Vic Bubas and seven fewer than North Carolina's Roy Williams.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementScheyer reached the milestone on a night where he also came away with plenty of teach tape for a Duke team that entered having defeated four straight ranked opponents.
Lipscomp scored more points in a half than all of them, including defending national champion Florida, which went for 42 in the second half of a 67-66 loss to the Duke on Dec. 2.
The Blue Devils staked themselves to a 10-0 advantage, only for the Bisons to storm back with a 10-0 run of their own. Throughout the opening period, they were fueled by guard Mateo Esmeraldo and center Grant Asman. They piled up 12 and 11 first-half points, respectively. Asman, despite dealing with some foul trouble, clocked out with a team-high 18 points. Esmeraldo finished with 14 points, 8 assists and 4 rebounds.
Ultimately, Duke's physicality won out. The Blue Devils logged 26 second-chance points. The Bisons didn't end up with any of those.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThat's how Duke took a 48-45 lead into the break, courtesy of a Cameron Boozer tip-in.
Layups from Esmeraldo and Lipscomb forward Titas Sargiunas put the Bisons back in front — only momentarily.
Caleb Foster drove, scored and gave the Blue Devils the keys. They were in control the rest of the way. Evans stealing Esmeraldo's cross-court pass and delivering a one-handed dunk felt like the turning point, however.
The Boozer twins made light work of the Lipscomb defense in the second half. All 9 points, 4 assists and 2 rebounds Cayden stacked came in the final period.
The final score won't tell the story of Lipscomb's first-half scare. The box score, stuffed with Duke's turnovers, does though.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThat won't be lost on Scheyer, even on a celebratory night.
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