Duke Routs Coastal Carolina 113-52
Patrick Ngongba II scored a career-high 28 points as Duke improved to 3-0 while Drew Scharnowski sat out his return-to-play plan.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Basketball
Duke basketball beat Coastal Carolina 113-52 in Durham, North Carolina. Drew Scharnowski did not play, as part of a planned return-to-play strategy after missing the preseason with a knee injury.
Why it matters
The lopsided win gave Duke a strong early-season result while the team manages the recovery of Scharnowski, who is returning from a knee injury. Keeping him on a measured schedule is intended to protect his health during the season.
Duke won 113-52, with Patrick Ngongba II's career-high 28 points leading the way while Cayden Boozer added 12 assists. Scharnowski logged 8:24 against Army earlier in the week, and the exact length of his restricted role remains unclear.
The players
Drew Scharnowski
A 6-foot-10, 240-pound Duke forward who is working his way back from a knee injury that kept him out of the preseason.
Patrick Ngongba II
A Duke center who posted a career-high 28 points against Coastal Carolina.
The details
Duke led throughout the game, with John Blackwell and Caleb Foster each scoring 15 points and Dame Sarr adding 12. Scharnowski was on the bench but not dressed out, and the ACC broadcast said he was held out for injury recovery and load management.
Timeline
Monday, Nov. 2: Scharnowski made his Duke debut in an 84-50 win over Army.
Thursday, Nov. 5: Duke defeated Coastal Carolina 113-52 in Durham, N.C.
Tuesday, Nov. 10: Duke faces Michigan State in the StateFarm Champions Classic at the United Center in Chicago.
Season Trajectory
Duke's 3-0 start keeps the Blue Devils near the top of the early-season picture while they ease a key big man back into the rotation. Managing a player's knee recovery over the first weeks of a long season is a standard approach for programs with deep rosters.
Scharnowski's status will matter for fantasy and roster decisions in the coming games, since his minutes are currently limited. Fans tracking the rotation should watch how quickly his workload increases over the next few contests.
The takeaway
Duke's early depth is being used carefully, with Scharnowski's gradual return showing how programs balance talent and health across a long season. Watching how his minutes grow will reveal the pace of his recovery.
What happens next
Duke plays Michigan State in the StateFarm Champions Classic at the United Center in Chicago on Tuesday, Nov. 10.
Further reading
Explore more Basketball coverage for context on Duke's early-season run.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Blueridgenow.
