Miami is defeated 97-60 by No. 2 Duke men’s basketball, although Proctor leaves the game injured.

Duke Dominates Miami with a 97-60 Victory, Proctor Exits Due to Injury

MIAMI — The Blue Devils were on fire Tuesday night in Miami, delivering a commanding performance in their 97-60 victory over the Hurricanes at the Watsco Center. Duke, ranked No. 2, extended its dominance in the ACC with a stellar showing, led by the freshman trio of Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, and Isaiah Evans. Together, they racked up 52 points and 11 rebounds, further boosting their rising profiles. The team showcased its offensive firepower, draining 15 three-pointers and recording 20 assists in a well-rounded performance.

“Great performance, proud of these guys. And for freshmen like these two guys next to me, they just have such a mature and serious approach. It’s really fun to coach these guys because of that, so proud of the win,” said head coach Jon Scheyer, flanked by Knueppel and Evans.

However, with just 37 seconds left in the first half, Duke suffered a setback. Junior guard Tyrese Proctor, while defending Divine Ugochukwu on a fast break, appeared to injure his knee. He immediately exited to the tunnel and did not return for the remainder of the game.

Despite the injury, Duke’s offensive rhythm remained unshaken. Following Saturday’s dominant win over Illinois, the Blue Devils maintained their momentum. They opened the game shooting 7-of-10, with all seven baskets assisted. Their efficiency spanned every area of the court, shooting at least 61.5% across all categories by halftime. Half of their made field goals were from beyond the arc, going 16-of-26 overall.

“I love the killer instinct that our team has had. I love the approach to each game. They haven’t big-timed anything,” Scheyer noted. “But we know what’s ahead. We know the battles we’re going to be in, and we know it can happen any night.”

Though their second-half shooting wasn’t as sharp, Duke’s defense compensated by stifling Miami’s offense. Early in the half, the Blue Devils went on a 20-4 run over a span of 6:27, further dismantling the Hurricanes despite Proctor’s absence and Flagg resting on the bench.

Missing their two leading scorers, Matthew Cleveland and Nijel Pack, Miami (6-22, 2-15 ACC) struggled to generate enough offense to stay competitive. By the first media timeout, the Hurricanes had committed as many turnovers as they had points, though Duke also recorded two giveaways.

Freshman guard Jalil Bethea was Miami’s primary bright spot. The highly touted recruit from Philadelphia showcased his three-point shooting ability, scoring 11 first-half points on 4-of-9 shooting, proving he could perform against Duke’s formidable defense.

Duke’s size advantage was evident, making it difficult for Miami to keep up physically. A key moment occurred with 5:44 left in the first half when Bethea attempted to pass around Proctor, only for Knueppel to deflect it. Knueppel quickly fed it back to Proctor, leading to a pair of free throws and a 33-19 lead. By the final buzzer, Duke had tallied four blocks, 10 steals, and numerous deflections.

With the freshmen excelling, Scheyer made strategic substitutions to prepare his young players for postseason play. Patrick Ngongba II and Isaiah Evans were the first off the bench, followed by sophomore guard Caleb Foster. Each contributed in their own way: Evans continued his hot shooting streak by sinking five three-pointers, including a four-point play; Ngongba provided rim protection; and Foster facilitated the offense while scoring on a driving layup.

“Just staying consistent in my preparation each week, working with Coach [Emanuel] Dildy, getting the same reps over and over again,” Evans said when asked about his shooting success.

With 14:36 remaining, Proctor hit a three-pointer to extend Duke’s lead and reached a personal milestone—1,000 career points—becoming the 70th player in Duke history to achieve this feat.

The second half started sloppily for both teams, with turnovers and fouls disrupting the flow. However, Duke capitalized, with Flagg finishing an and-one over Ugochukwu at the 17:21 mark. Shortly after, another forced turnover led to an easy layup by Khaman Maluach, prompting a Miami timeout.

Proctor’s injury and the lopsided score allowed Scheyer to distribute minutes across the roster. Darren Harris saw his most extensive action in conference play, entering with over 10 minutes left. Foster also played 17 minutes, a significant increase from his usual role in the ACC schedule.

Duke (25-3, 16-1 ACC) now looks ahead to their next challenge, returning home to face Florida State on Saturday at 7 p.m.