PALO ALTO, Calif. (Interstat) — The Duke Blue Devils delivered a defensive masterclass, suffocating the Stanford Cardinal from the opening tip and cruising to an 80-50 victory in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday at Maples Pavilion.

The game was effectively decided in a nightmarish first half for the home team. Duke’s relentless pressure and physicality overwhelmed Stanford, forcing a cascade of turnovers and contested shots. The Cardinal managed only 19 points before halftime, shooting a dismal 6 of 27 from the field and committing 11 turnovers. Duke, meanwhile, operated with clinical efficiency, building a 35-19 lead that felt insurmountable given the flow of the contest.

The most important stretch of the game came in the opening minutes, where Duke set a tone of dominance that never wavered. Starting with the game’s first possession, a steal by Cameron Boozer led to a quick layup, and the Blue Devils unleashed a 14-0 run before Stanford found the scoreboard. The Cardinal’s offense was disjointed, struggling to even initiate sets against Duke’s active hands and switching defense. By the first media timeout, the visiting Blue Devils had established a double-digit lead they would only expand, turning Stanford mistakes into easy transition opportunities and points in the paint.

Cameron Boozer, Duke’s sophomore star, was the engine of both the early surge and the sustained attack. He finished with a game-high 30 points, showcasing his versatile inside-out game. He was instrumental in the first-half blitz, scoring on putbacks, drives, and even stepping out to hit a three-pointer. His defensive activity, recording multiple steals, fueled the fast break and epitomized Duke’s all-around effort.

He was complemented powerfully by center Patrick Ngongba, who provided 13 points and stout interior defense, and wing Isaiah Evans, who added 15 points. Duke’s defense was the headline, however. They held Stanford to 35.2% shooting for the game, including a frigid 6 of 25 from three-point range. The Blue Devils recorded 11 steals and forced 17 total turnovers, converting those into 22 points. Offensively, Duke punished Stanford inside, scoring 44 points in the paint and attempting 28 free throws to Stanford’s 10.

Stanford, which entered the game with a 14-4 record, never found an offensive rhythm. Jeremy Dent-Smith led the Cardinal with 18 points, but 14 of those came in the second half with the outcome long decided. The team’s primary ball-handlers were harassed constantly, resulting in a paltry four assists against their 17 turnovers. Ebuka Okorie added nine points but also accounted for five of Stanford’s giveaways.

The victory improved Duke’s record to 17-1, continuing a strong start to their season that includes wins over Kansas, Michigan State, and Texas. The Blue Devils have now won four consecutive games since their only loss to Texas Tech in December. Stanford fell to 14-5, suffering its most lopsided defeat of the season in front of a subdued crowd of 7,880.

The statistical dominance was comprehensive. Duke scored 80 points on just 62 possessions, an elite offensive rating of 128.4, while Stanford’s offensive rating was a meager 76.0. The Blue Devils also won the assist battle 11-4 and blocked four shots.

Duke now looks ahead to a return to Atlantic Coast Conference play, hosting Wake Forest next Saturday. Stanford, a member of the ACC this season, will seek to regroup before its next conference test against California, also next Saturday.