No. 1 Duke did not bother with suspense on Saturday. In a charged afternoon at Cameron Indoor Stadium, the Blue Devils bulldozed No. 11 Virginia 77-51, leading wire to wire and turning a showdown into a statement. The victory locked up at least a share of the ACC regular-season title, secured the top seed for the conference tournament, pushed Duke to 27-2 overall and 15-1 in the ACC, and snapped Virginia's nine-game winning streak.
Isaiah Evans set the tone, pouring in 19 points and knocking down five 3-pointers, while freshman Cameron Boozer played beyond his years with 18 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Boozer lived at the line and made it count, going 11-for-12 on free throws. Duke as a team shot 49.1 percent from the field and drilled 12 of 24 attempts from beyond the arc, a long-range onslaught Virginia simply could not match. Those details were reported by the Associated Press.
Virginia's offense never found a rhythm
On the other end, Virginia’s typically measured offense sputtered all afternoon. The Cavaliers shot just 29.1 percent from the floor and went 7-for-35 from three-point range, unable to buy a bucket even on their cleaner looks. Thijs De Ridder was one of the few bright spots, finishing with 16 points.
Duke’s defense swarmed passing lanes, forced rushed shots and turnovers, and steadily turned early momentum into a runaway. The blowout was not built on one star but on a balanced effort and timely contributions off the bench, as Sports Illustrated broke down in its recap.
Standings and what's next
With the win, Duke locked in the No. 1 seed for the ACC Tournament and put itself one victory away from claiming the regular-season title outright, with two games still to play. The Blue Devils now head to N.C. State on Monday, while Virginia returns to Charlottesville to host Wake Forest on Tuesday. Those standing and schedule notes were reported by the Associated Press.
Notes and context
The afternoon came with some extra theater. Legendary former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski watched from courtside, a reminder of the program’s championship expectations as this year’s team chases its own banners. On the opposite bench, Virginia is working through its first season under head coach Ryan Odom, adding another layer of transition to a tough road environment.
Reporters also highlighted several turning points that helped Duke slam the door, including a Caleb Foster defensive stand that forced a shot-clock violation and sent Cameron into one of its trademark eruptions. For more local color and detail from the scene, see the News & Observer game story.
