Duke’s men’s basketball team, ranked No. 1 and holding the top seed, has once again proven its dominance by clinching the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Tournament championship. This victory marks the program’s remarkable 24th ACC Tournament title, extending their lead over the second-place UNC Tar Heels to a significant eight championships. The triumph came after a hard-fought 74-70 win against the No. 2 seed Virginia Cavaliers on Saturday night, just under 24 hours after their 73-61 semifinal victory over Clemson.
Overcoming Early Deficit to Secure First-Half Lead
The championship game saw Duke facing an early challenge, falling behind Virginia 12-6 within the first five minutes of play. However, the young talent on the Duke squad, particularly freshmen Cayden Boozer and Nikolas Khamenia, began to shift the momentum. Their contributions in securing rebounds, forcing steals, drawing fouls, and making crucial shots ignited a 10-2 run. This surge propelled the Blue Devils to a 16-14 lead shortly after the second media timeout.
Despite Virginia’s strong offensive displays, Duke’s relentless effort and assertive play on both ends of the court proved decisive. The team, operating with a reduced seven-man rotation due to late-season foot injuries to sophomore center Patrick Ngongba II and junior guard Caleb Foster, managed to maintain their advantage. They entered the locker room at halftime with a 38-36 lead, bolstered by a 19-12 rebounding advantage in the first half.
Cayden Boozer was the standout performer for Duke in the opening half, scoring 14 points on an efficient 5-of-8 shooting from the field, including a perfect 1-of-1 from beyond the arc, and making 3-of-4 free throws. No other Duke player had more than seven points in the first 20 minutes.
Second-Half Resilience and Championship Clinching Performance
The second half began with an exchange of blows. Although Duke’s sophomore wing Isaiah Evans started with a three-pointer, Virginia responded with a 13-7 run, leading to a 49-45 deficit for the Blue Devils at the first media timeout.
However, Duke’s resilience shone through. Approximately two minutes later, a crucial three-pointer from freshman forward and ACC Player of the Year Cameron Boozer, who had only scored three points up to that point, narrowed the gap to 49-48. On the subsequent possession, Nikolas Khamenia’s two free throws gave Duke its first lead of the second half, 50-49. Sophomore guard Darren Harris further extended this lead with an and-one layup, making it 53-51.
The game remained tightly contested, with Virginia tying the score at 58-58 before the under-8 timeout. In the critical final minutes, Cameron Boozer rediscovered his offensive rhythm, relentlessly attacking the basket and drawing fouls against Virginia’s big men. Isaiah Evans delivered a clutch three-pointer with 4:47 remaining, and the determined Blue Devils consistently made winning plays down the stretch to secure their latest ACC championship.
Key Performers and NCAA Tournament Outlook
Three Duke players reached double-digit scoring in the championship game:
- Isaiah Evans: Led the team with 20 points, shooting an impressive 4-of-8 from three-point range.
- Cayden Boozer: Contributed 16 points, along with five rebounds and four assists.
- Cameron Boozer: Added 13 points, pulling down eight rebounds and dishing out eight assists.
With this ACC Tournament title under the guidance of Jon Scheyer, who was recognized as the ACC Coach of the Year, Duke is now a projected No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year. The team will await their official bracket placement and first-round opponent on Selection Sunday, with the show airing at 6 p.m. ET on CBS.
The 2025-26 Blue Devils, boasting a 32-2 overall record and a 20-1 mark against ACC opponents, enter the NCAA Tournament on an impressive 11-game winning streak. This mirrors the success of the 2024-25 team, which also captured both the regular season and ACC Tournament titles before reaching the Final Four.
