On a high-stakes Monday night, the Blue Devils celebrated their third consecutive home triumph, securing a 77-69 victory over Wake Forest. Among the standout performances, one name, Mark Mitchell, shone bright, continuing his impressive hot streak.
The sophomore forward matched his career best, leading all players with a whopping 23 points, 9-of-14 shooting from the field, and even a mark beyond the arc. Mitchell, showcasing his all-round talent, complemented his scoring prowess by pulling down eight rebounds and swatting away two shots. His influential presence on the court was instrumental in the Blue Devils' convincing win.
Mitchell's offensive contribution was outstanding, both with and without the ball. He found several opportunities in the dunker spot, serving as a go-to target for sophomore center, Kyle Filipowski, out of the double team. He then leveraged his explosive 6-foot-9 frame to blow by Wake Forest at the rim. The Sunrise Christian product showed improved comfort in handling the ball through traffic and finishing through contact.
Adding the icing to his career-best performance, Mitchell delivered a slam dunk in the final 15 seconds. This powerful move crushed Wake Forest's hopes of a comeback and sent Cameron Indoor Stadium into an ecstatic frenzy. The Kansas City, Kan., native's offensive production throughout the recent homestand has been a testimonial to his significant improvement. Mitchell's athleticism and interior presence, complemented by his defensive versatility, have marked him as one of the ACC's finest and will undoubtedly prove crucial for the Blue Devils in their upcoming in-conference schedule.
One of the significant questions surrounding this year's roster has been the team's toughness. On Monday night, however, the Blue Devils battled and emerged victorious, displaying an unquestionable level of grit. Filipowski and Mitchell each clocked 38 quality minutes on the interior, defensively standing their ground against Wake Forest’s bigs while also making high-energy plays on the other side.
They were pivotal contributors to the team’s 32 points in the paint and 25 free-throw attempts. Jared McCain, standing only 6-foot-3, hustled for 10 rebounds on the night, sharing the game-high with Filipowski. This toughness through contact and energy on the boards were standout developments from Monday night, developments that the young Duke rotation should strive to maintain throughout the remainder of the season.
