Duke center Patrick Ngongba II scores career-high 28 in rout of Coastal Carolina
The gist
Duke junior center Patrick Ngongba II scored a career-high 28 points in a 113-52 win over Coastal Carolina.
The 6-foot-11 big's breakout start matters with No. 6 Michigan State next.
How it unfolded
- Mar 2, 2026Ngongba had been out with lingering foot soreness and was seen on a knee rover with a boot on his right foot.
- Mar 18, 2026Duke head coach Jon Scheyer said Ngongba was 'very unlikely' to play in No. 1 Duke's NCAA tournament first-round game against No. 16 seed Siena.
- Apr 20, 2026The Duke basketball program announced Ngongba would return for a junior season.
Key terms
- No. 16 seed
- The practice of separating the most skilled competitors in a tournament bracket so they do not meet in early rounds.
- State Farm Champions Classic
- An annual college basketball event that opens the NCAA Division I men's season, featuring Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, and Michigan State.
Source: Wikipedia