​BUIES CREEK — Campbell is set to head to Durham on Tuesday, December 15, for a national-intrigue matchup against Duke, a game that comes just a few months shy of the 35th anniversary of their memorable 1992 NCAA tournament meeting. The upcoming contest will mark the fourth all-time clash between the Camels and Blue Devils on the basketball court and the first since November 13, 2021, when a ranked No. 9 Duke squad narrowly held off Campbell, 67-56.
This game at Duke will also represent Campbell’s seventh straight season facing an Atlantic Coast Conference foe. The Camels have traveled to battle ACC opponents in several recent campaigns: at North Carolina State during the 2020-21 and 2022-23 seasons, at Duke in 2021-22, at Virginia Tech in 2023-24, at the University of Virginia in 2024-25, and last season at Wake Forest. The Blue Devils most recently defeated Campbell in 1992, beating the Camels 82-56 in the NCAA tournament first round at the Greensboro Coliseum on March 19, 1992, en route to a second consecutive national title. In that game, Christian Laettner led Duke with 22 points, while Campbell’s Mark Mocnik poured in a game-high 29 points on seven-of-13 shooting from three-point range. That Duke program of 1992 featured eight future NBA draft picks, including first-round selections Laettner (1992), Bobby Hurley (1993), Grant Hill (1994), and Cherokee Parks (1995).
Duke earned a 84-59 victory over Campbell on January 13, 1997, in Durham. In that game, Jim Fitzpatrick scored 19 and Corey Best added 14 for the Camels, with Greg Newton leading Duke with 14. The 1996-97 Blue Devils roster included future pros such as Chris Carrawell, Steve Wojciechowski, Jeff Capel, and Nate James.
The most recent meeting prior to the upcoming game occurred on November 13, 2021, when the Blue Devils held on to defeat Campbell at Cameron Indoor Stadium, 67-56. In that game, Paolo Banchero led Duke with 18 points after Duke trailed by 10 early. For Campbell, Cedric Henderson, Jr. matched Banchero with 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, while Ricky Clemons also scored 18 points. Jesus Carralero contributed 12 points, eight rebounds, and four assists for the Camels, who out-rebounded Duke 34-31 despite Duke starting two players at 6-foot-10 or taller. The 2021 meeting demonstrated Campbell’s resilience as they fought back and stayed within striking distance late.
Across the all-time series, Campbell owns a 1-40 record against current ACC members, with the lone victory coming on December 4, 1993, a 72-69 overtime win at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh, North Carolina, against NC State. Although Campbell has faced Duke less frequently than many programs, the series carries historical significance for the Camels.
Campbell’s ties to Duke extend beyond on-court competition. The Camels’ basketball lineage includes Bob Vernon, a notable bridge between programs. Vernon earned JUCO All-America honors at Campbell in 1956, later lettered at Duke (1957-58), and built a storied coaching career that culminated in a remarkable 418 wins at Kennedy High School, establishing him as one of New Jersey’s all-time winningest prep coaches. Vernon’s broad impact on and off the court earned him induction into the Campbell Sports Hall of Fame in 1986, underscoring the enduring link between Campbell and Duke through generations of players, coaches, and fans.
As Campbell prepares for the December 15 matchup with Duke, the game promises to blend historical significance with contemporary basketball competition. The Camels will look to challenge a Duke program with a storied NCAA tournament résumé, while Campbell itself seeks to build momentum against ACC competition and continue its long-standing tradition of competing against some of the nation’s premier programs. For fans and observers, the game represents more than a single contest—it’s a reunion with a storied chapter in Campbell basketball history and a chance to witness the ongoing evolution of a program eager to prove itself on a national stage.