Sarr and freshman Boumtje Boumtje lead Duke to 84-50 win over Army

No. 2 Duke opened its 2026-27 season with a commanding 84-50 victory over Army on Monday night in Durham, N.C.

Dame Sarr finished with 16 points, while 17-year-old freshman Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje recorded 15 points in his collegiate debut. Boumtje Boumtje, born in May 2009, is the youngest active player in Division I. He also secured seven rebounds and blocked three shots. Patrick Ngongba II added 10 points for the Blue Devils.

Duke established control early, starting the game with a 12-0 lead. Army did not make a field goal for nearly the first six minutes of play. The Blue Devils scored 50 of their total points in the paint. An 11-0 run at the start of the second half extended the margin to 44-18.

Army managed a 12-0 scoring streak later in the game, fueled by four 3-pointers. Kevin McCarthy led the Black Knights with 17 points. However, Army committed 24 turnovers throughout the contest. Duke outscored Army 22-6 at the free-throw line.

The Blue Devils went 0 for 9 from beyond the arc in the first half. In the second half, four different Duke players hit 3-pointers. This kept the school's streak of games with at least one made 3-pointer at 1,303, a record that began nearly 37 years ago.

Duke enters its 19th consecutive season with a top-10 ranking. This marks the team's 27th straight season-opening win. Duke will host Coastal Carolina on Thursday night. Army will host Mount Saint Mary on Thursday night.