LAS VEGAS — In a thrilling matchup, Dajuan Harris contributed 14 points as the top-ranked Kansas Jayhawks edged past the No. 11 Duke Blue Devils with a final score of 75-72 during the Vegas Showdown on Friday night.
However, the victory was not without its challenges for Kansas, as star center Hunter Dickinson was ejected from the game for a flagrant 2 foul after kicking Duke’s Maliq Brown in the head midway through the second half. Prior to his exit, Dickinson was performing well, averaging 17.8 points and 10.4 rebounds so far this season.
In Dickinson’s absence, freshman standout Cooper Flagg for Duke capitalized on the situation, helping the Blue Devils stay competitive until the final seconds.
Zeke Mayo stepped up for Kansas, contributing 12 points, while Dickinson and AJ Storr each added 11 points to the scoreboard. For Duke, Tyrese Proctor led the way with 15 points, Flagg followed closely with 13, Kon Knueppel netted 11, and Sion James chipped in 10 points.
The decisive moment came when Mayo put Kansas ahead for good, hitting a jumper with 1:57 remaining to give the Jayhawks a 73-71 advantage. Duke answered back with a free throw from Flagg, but Rylan Griffen secured the win for Kansas by making two free throws just 2 seconds before the buzzer.
Historically, this victory continues Kansas’s recent dominance over Duke, with the Jayhawks winning four of the last five encounters and six of the last eight. Interestingly, nine out of the last ten matchups have been decided by single digits.
From this game, a couple of key takeaways emerge. For Kansas, handling the absence of Dickinson could be beneficial as the season progresses. Meanwhile, for Duke, Flagg’s performance saw him transition from a quiet first half to a dominant role in the second, where he made significant contributions in the paint after Dickinson was removed from the game.
A notable play that left fans on the edge of their seats was when Knueppel’s 3-point attempt rattled off the rim at the buzzer, denying Duke the chance to force overtime.
In terms of shooting statistics, Duke showcased a strong offensive performance, hitting 50% from the field and a commendable 42.3% from beyond the arc. Kansas matched closely with a shooting efficiency of 49.1% overall and 47.1% from three-point territory.
Looking ahead, Kansas is set to host Furman on Saturday, while Duke will compete against Seattle at home on Friday.