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The flow of the contest followed sharp tactical shifts across both halves. Duke built small leads through deliberate half-court sets, only for St. John’s to erase deficits with rapid defensive conversions.
| Phase / Timeframe | Game Action & Momentum | Decisive Factors |
|---|---|---|
| First Half (0:00, 10:00) | St. John’s sets a furious pace; Duke counters with methodical rim attacks. | Interior presence of Patrick Ngongba II neutralizes early Red Storm putbacks. |
| First Half (10:00, 20:00) | Duke establishes an 8-point cushion behind perimeter shooting. | Caleb Foster handles secondary ball distribution with zero turnovers in the span. |
| Second Half (20:00, 32:00) | Pitino switches to full-court run-and-jump trap, cutting Duke's lead to 2. | St. John’s forces three live-ball turnovers to fuel a 9-2 run. |
| Closing Minutes (32:00, 40:00) | Duke converts crucial free throws to close out the 80-75 win. | Late defensive stops and clutch foul shooting seal the Elite Eight berth. |
