Duke’s Blue Devils all saw the sign: “Beware of The Phog.” Patrick Ngongba II chose to ignore it.

Duke’s big man found Phog Allen Fieldhouse much to his liking Sunday, pouring in 28 points to go with 10 rebounds as the No. 2 Blue Devils came away with a 90-84 victory over No. 17 Kansas.

After blowouts at home over Belmont and then No. 8 Tennessee, the Blue Devils went on the road and made their first appearance at Kansas for the first time since 1988. The historic old arena was full, hot and loud.

“An incredible environment,” Devils coach Jon Scheyer said in his postgame press conference. “Nothing about it felt like an exhibition game. For us to go on the road and play a really good team, a hungry team, I think we learn a lot.

“For me, I thought we showed a lot of toughness, You’re still figuring out what you have in these exhibition games.”

Duke’s John Blackwell was a big part of it, backing up Ngongba with 23 points. The senior transfer’s experience was evident in the second half as he knocked down some key shots and had some hustle plays to help the Blue Devils build a nice lead in the final minutes and keep it.

The Jayhawks’ Tyran Stokes, coming off a poor game in an exhibition loss to Louisville, had 27 points. Stokes, the nation’s top-ranked prep player last season, had eight rebounds and seven assists.

The Blue Devils shot 45% from the field but looked to attack the rim and got to the line 33 times. Ngongba was 9-of-10 at the line and Dame Sarr 8-11.

It wasn’t a smooth game. More like a rough practice scrimmage at times. There were slaps and bodies banging and players tumbling to the court at times. – Ngongba took one hard fall on the baseline in the first half.

The Blue Devils scored the first five points, Kansas responded with a 12-1 run, Duke took a 12-point lead and the Jayhawks led 45-43 at the half as each team made considerable substitutions and had good moments and bad.

The teams traded the lead in the second half until an 11-0 run pushed Duke ahead 88-76 on a Blackwell 3-pointer with three minutes remaining.

“They’re more mature and more poised than we are,” Kansas coach Bill Self said after the game. “Pat (Ngongba) dominated the game. Pat and Blackwell.”

The one constant in the game was Ngongba, who played 32 minutes, made nine of his 12 shots and had a team-best four assists and two blocks.

“Pat was a man, right from the get-go,” Scheyer said. “He controlled the whole game. He did everything for us.”

The Jayhawks tried double teams. They kept a third player ready to jump in and help. Down the stretch they had Stokes alone on Ngongba for a few possessions. Nothing really worked.

”I just felt like I was looking to be aggressive,” Ngongba said.

Observations from the exhibition game:

He’s 17 and still maturing

Duke’s Joaquim Boumtje Boumtke still has some maturing to do. Then again, he’s 17.

Playing at home, with the Cameron Crazies roaring after his every move, the big freshman was comfortably in his element. But not Sunday. It was loud and hot in Allen Fieldhouse and the calls not going his way early and Boumtje Boumtje showed some frustration.

Flattened on a first-half drive, he looked up at a nearby ref in disbelief there was no call. Later in the half, he was too loose with the ball and had it easily knocked away for a turnover. He forced a 3, forced another drive and again fell.

Scheyer at one point called him to the sideline, put an arm around him and had a few words. The freshman finished with six points -- 2-10 from the field -- but had nine rebounds.

Wilkins earns his minutes

It’s going to be hard keeping Sebastian Wilkins off the court. He redshirted last year and didn’t get to play but offers too much for Scheyer: size, quickness, alert defense and toughness.

Wilkins matched up Stokes during Sunday’s game and Stokes, who is 6-8 and 230 pounds, had a hard time finding good openings on the offensive end. Once Wilkins was out of the game, Stokes’ play picked up.

Wilkins could have hit the NCAA portal after last season. He didn’t, which could prove to be a very good decision. He gave the Devils 21 solid minutes Sunday and had seven points and four boards.

Foster back and playing

The Devils were happy to have Caleb Foster back and playing. The senior did not play in the first two exhibition games and there initially was the thought he might not be in the lineup until the season opener against Army because of a foot problem.

But Foster obviously wanted to be a part of this road game – at Kansas, at The Phog. It’s one of college basketball’s most revered arenas and Sunday would be the only chance for Foster to take the floor in it.

Foster was in for 16 minutes and struggled getting his shots to drop, but it was a start.

“He’s ahead of schedule. We didn’t think he’d even play in this game,” Scheyer said. “It’s great to see him out there. Just his presence made a difference for us.”

Going head to head

Two of the best young point guards in the country got a chance to size up each other again. Duke’s Deron Rippey Jr., and Tay Kinney of Kansas were rated the two best prep point guards last by recruiting services.

Rippey had a team-high 21 points in the win over Tennessee and dazzled the Cameron crowd, but didn’t play as much and did not hunt points Sunday -- with Foster back, he had 13 minutes. Kinney played 32 minutes and had 14 points for Kansas.

It should be fun for the fan bases watching those two develop this year and enjoy the highlights they can create. Rippey comes on the court appearing filled with pent-up energy and ready to turn it loose.

This story was originally published October 25, 2026 at 4:56 PM with the headline "Ngongba, Blackwell lead No. 2 Blue Devils to exhibition win over Kansas."