Evans, Boozer help No. 6 Duke overcome slow start to defeat Texas

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Isaiah Evans scored 23 points, Cameron Boozer had a big second half and finished with 15 points and 13 rebounds as No. 6 Duke overcame a sluggish start to beat Texas 75-60 at the Dick Vitale Invitational on Tuesday night.

The Blue Devils got 10 points from Patrick Ngongba and used a stifling defense to limit Texas to 32% shooting and force 16 turnovers.

Dailyn Swain had 16 points, while Jordan Pope and Matas Vokietaitis each had 15 to lead Texas in coach Sean Miller’s debut.

Boozer, one of the nation's top high school recruits, was 0 for 7 from the field and held scoreless in the first half with three rebounds as Duke trailed 33-32 at the break.

But Boozer, the son of former Duke star Carlos Boozer, made his presence felt in the second half getting to the foul line 12 times and converting nine free throws. He also had three steals, two assists and a block in an all-around effort reminiscent of Cooper Flagg a year ago.

Duke coach Jon Scheyer offered a challenge to Boozer at halftime, bluntly telling the 6-foot-9 freshman forward phenom that he was “playing soft.”

“I just tried to wash it off,” Boozer said of his disappointing first half.

Texas coach Sean Miller walked away impressed, calling Boozer a “one-man wrecking crew.”

“I think he’s one of the best players in the country,” Miller said. “I’d have a hard time believing there’s a freshman that is any better. ... His ability to rebound is amazing. He had 12 defensive rebounds tonight. That's really difficult in a college game at 40 minutes to get 12 defensive rebounds."

“And," Miller added, "he might have had a subpar game for him.”

Duke, which lost five players from last year’s team including Flagg to the NBA draft, looked like a team finding its way early on.

Nearly seven minutes into the game the Blue Devils trailed 7-3 and were 1 of 10 from the field with two turnovers.

But that changed in hurry as Evans, who played high school basketball just north of Charlotte, began to heat up with four 3-pointers helping the Blue Devils open a 26-17 lead. Texas clawed back to take the lead at halftime with Evans on the bench for an extended stretch.

Honoring Dickie V

An emotional video introduction about Vitale's legacy and fight against cancer narrated by former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski was aired on the Spectrum Center videoboard before the game, bringing the 86-year-old commentator to tears as he looked on from press row.

As Krzyzewski finished with "you are awesome with a capital V' the crowd roared and gave Vitale a standing ovation.

Up next

Texas: Hosts Lafayette on Saturday.

Duke: Hosts Western Carolina on Saturday.

___

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball