DURHAM, N.C. – The Duke men's basketball team officially launched its 2026-27 season during the annual Countdown to Craziness event on Saturday night at Cameron Indoor Stadium, featuring a Blue-White scrimmage. Team White emerged victorious with a score of 29-24, clinching the win on a game-ending three-pointer by Deron Rippey Jr.
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Team White shot over 60 percent from the field, completing 11 of 18 attempts, and achieved a 50 percent success rate from three-point range with four out of eight shots. Although Team Blue led in rebounding, 9-7, and in points scored in the paint, 16-14, Team White excelled in transition, scoring 13 fast-break points while keeping Team Blue scoreless in that category.
The game opened with both teams hitting their first five shots, including three-pointers from John Blackwell and Sebastian Wilkins. Team White initially took a 9-5 lead with a short run but Team Blue quickly responded with six consecutive points, regaining a 11-9 advantage.
Blackwell's three-point play allowed Team Blue to lead 18-14 with 4:36 remaining in the scrimmage. However, consecutive three-pointers from Patrick Ngongba II and Bryson Howard gave Team White a narrow lead of 20-18, establishing the Elam ending target score of 28.
After the score was tied at 24, Caleb Foster put Team White ahead with a jumper before Rippey Jr. secured the win with a three-pointer, reaching the required 29 points for victory.
Rippey Jr. and Wilkins were the top scorers for Team White, each contributing seven points. Blackwell led Team Blue with 10 points. Additionally, Rippey Jr. recorded three assists, and Boumtje Boumtje and Maxime Meyer each pulled down two rebounds, the highest total in the game.
UP NEXT: Duke will host Belmont at Cameron Indoor Stadium for a scrimmage on Thursday, Oct. 8, at 7 p.m., which will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra (ACCNX).