Duke Crushes Belmont 102-62 in Season Exhibition Opener

Duke opened its new college basketball season with a commanding 102-62 exhibition victory over Belmont at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Thursday night, Oct. 8, 2026. The performance highlighted the depth of head coach Jon Scheyer's roster, led by 17-year-old freshman Joaquim Boumtje-Boumtje and senior transfer guard John Blackwell.

Boumtje-Boumtje, a 7-foot-2 freshman, led Duke with 19 points on seven-of-eleven shooting, according to the game report. Despite his age and the occasion of his first game, he delivered an efficient scoring performance that stood out in Duke's season opener.

Scheyer praised the young center's composure and ability to handle the moment in his first appearance for the program.

"To be 17 years old and (not to be) afraid of this moment in his first game says a lot about who he is and what he's made of," Duke head coach Jon Scheyer said.

Blackwell, one of Duke's notable offseason additions, contributed 17 points. The senior transfer guard scored in the paint, connected on three-point shots and created scoring opportunities for himself, demonstrating his versatility in the backcourt.

Playing at Cameron Indoor Stadium for the first time also left an impression on Blackwell, who anticipated an even larger crowd in future games.

"The energy was amazing," Blackwell said of his first time playing in Cameron. "It wasn't even packed out today, so I'm very excited to play in front of the fans going forward."

The exhibition also marked a return to Duke for Evan Bradds, who served as an assistant coach under Scheyer last season before leaving to become Belmont's head coach. The matchup placed Bradds against his former boss in his first game as a college head coach.

Bradds acknowledged the unusual circumstances of returning to his former workplace so soon after leaving the program.

"It is a little weird," Bradds said. "When we landed yesterday, everyone was like, 'What's it feel like to be back?' Well, I just left six months ago."

Duke's next exhibition is scheduled for Oct. 20, when the team will face Tennessee at Cameron Indoor Stadium.