Duke Blue Devils outlast Kansas Jayhawks 78-66 in Champions Classic showdown at Madison Square Garden

The Duke Blue Devils didn’t just win—they asserted themselves. On Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at 9:00 p.m. EST, they battered the Kansas Jayhawks 78-66 at Madison Square Garden in the annual State Farm Champions ClassicNew York City, turning a gritty, physical battle into a statement win. The Blue Devils, already 4-0 on the season, improved to 5-0. The Jayhawks, coming off a strong stretch after a loss at North Carolina, dropped to 3-2. But this wasn’t just another early-season victory. It was a lesson in depth, discipline, and how one missing piece can unravel a top-25 team.

Boozer’s Breakout and the Depth Advantage

Freshman Cameron Boozer didn’t just show up—he dominated. The 6’8” forward finished with 18 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists, playing like a veteran in a pressure-packed environment. His twin brother, Cayden Boozer, made critical plays down the stretch, hitting two clutch baskets that silenced Kansas’s late rally. But Cameron wasn’t alone. Duke’s bench outscored Kansas’s reserves 24-8, a chasm that became impossible to bridge as the game wore on. The Jayhawks, already thin, were further crippled by the absence of key forward Peterson, a player the Associated Press noted was "enough to make a difference at Madison Square Garden."

Foul Trouble and the First-Half Collapse

Kansas never recovered from the first half’s chaos. All five starters picked up at least one foul before the break, and three had two apiece. Duke, meanwhile, exploited the situation with surgical precision, closing the half on a 17-5 run to take an eight-point lead. The Jayhawks, known for their transition game, got rattled. They couldn’t get clean looks, couldn’t get to the rim, and couldn’t stop Duke’s ball movement. ESPN’s postgame analysis highlighted Duke’s passing as a decisive factor—19 assists on 29 field goals. Kansas, averaging nearly 18 assists per game last season, managed just 12. The defensive intensity? Duke ranked top-five nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency early this year. Kansas? They looked out of sync.

White’s Heroics and the Final Push

But Kansas didn’t quit. Senior guard Tre White carried the load with 23 points and nine rebounds, dragging his team back from a 14-point deficit. With 4:59 left, Melvin Council Jr. buried a three-pointer to cut the lead to 67-64. The Garden roared. For a moment, it felt like Kansas might pull off the upset. But Duke’s poise, honed by four straight wins, held firm. The Blue Devils responded with four straight free throws and a key steal by sophomore guard Jalen Washington that led to a fast-break dunk. Kansas’s offense stalled. Their shooters went cold. And Duke’s defense, relentless and disciplined, forced three straight missed shots in the final three minutes.

What This Means for Both Programs

For Duke, this win isn’t just a notch on the schedule—it’s validation. They entered the season as a team with elite talent but unproven cohesion. Now, they’ve beaten a top-25 team on the road, in a marquee event, with a freshman carrying the load. Their record against the spread? A perfect 4-0. Their offensive efficiency? Still elite, even when their three-point shooting sputtered (7-for-26). They’re not just good—they’re building something.

For Kansas, the message is harsh but clear: depth matters. Losing Peterson, even temporarily, exposed a roster that leans too heavily on its starters. The Jayhawks bounced back from a 13-point loss at North Carolina with wins over Texas A&M, Corpus Christi, and Princeton—but those weren’t tests. This was. And they didn’t pass. Coach Bill Self’s squad now heads to Las Vegas for the Players Era tournament, where they’ll face Notre Dame on Monday. They’ll need more than heart. They’ll need bodies.

What’s Next?

Duke’s next test comes Friday night at Cameron Indoor Stadium, where they’ll host Niagara. A tune-up, sure—but also a chance to rest key players before the brutal non-conference gauntlet ahead. Kansas, meanwhile, has 72 hours to regroup before facing Notre Dame in Las Vegas. Will Peterson return? Can their bench contribute? And can they fix their foul trouble before facing a more physical team?

Historical Context: The Champions Classic Legacy

The State Farm Champions ClassicMadison Square Garden has been a proving ground since 2011. It’s where legends are made—Duke’s Zion Williamson, Kansas’s Andrew Wiggins, Kentucky’s Anthony Davis. This year’s matchup was billed as a clash of traditions: Duke’s modern, fast-paced system versus Kansas’s half-court grind. The result? A win for structure over chaos. For the first time since 2019, Duke won the Champions Classic in New York. And for the first time since 2021, Kansas lost a non-conference game by double digits.