Three takeaways No. 21 Duke basketball win No. 10 Baylor New York City

Duke's freshman Jared McCain led the Blue Devils to a 78-70 win over No. 10 Baylor. Duke's next game is Dec. 30.

Duke's 78-70 victory over Baylor on Wednesday night was a much-needed win for the Blue Devils. Freshman Jared McCain led the team with 21 points, including a crucial 3-pointer that sparked a 9-0 run in the second half. This performance was especially impressive considering Duke was playing without injured guard Tyrese Proctor and leading scorer Kyle Filipowski was in foul trouble.

The game was tied at 61 when Filipowski picked up his fourth foul and had to sit on the bench with just over 7 minutes left in the game. However, his replacement, Ryan Young, stepped up and scored a layup off a pass from Jeremy Roach to start Duke's 9-0 run. This put the Blue Devils in the lead, and they never trailed again.

Duke shot an impressive 51% in the game, including 59% in the second half. Senior guard Jeremy Roach also had a strong performance, adding 18 points to help secure the victory. It was a crucial win for Duke, as they entered the game 1-1 in Quadrant 1 results, according to the NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET).

The game also marked the third consecutive game that Duke played without its starting point guard, Tyrese Proctor, who is recovering from a sprained ankle. Although Proctor is making progress and is expected to return soon, his absence has forced Duke to tighten up its playing rotation. Duke coach Jon Scheyer used just three players off the bench, with Young, Jaylen Blakes, and TJ Power stepping up to contribute valuable minutes.

Overall, the victory over Baylor was a significant win for Duke, as Baylor was ranked No. 16 in the NET. This win provides a much-needed boost for Duke's resume, as they look to secure more high-quality wins in the future. With upcoming games against nonconference foe Queens and ACC play against Syracuse, Duke will have more opportunities to solidify their position in the rankings.