Duke Survives Late Florida Challenge, Remains Undefeated wiht 67-66 Victory
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The Blue Devils extended their perfect start to the season, overcoming a resilient Florida squad with a clutch three-pointer from Isaiah Evans and a game-sealing steal by Maliq Brown.
DURHAM, N.C.- No. 4 Duke narrowly escaped with a 67-66 victory over No.15 Florida Tuesday night at Cameron Indoor Stadium, fueled by a late-game surge and a stifling defensive programme.
Boozer Leads Duke’s Offensive Charge
Freshman sensation Cameron Boozer spearheaded Duke’s attack,pouring in a game-high 29 points,including 16 in the first half.boozer also contributed six rebounds, two assists, and one steal, demonstrating his all-around impact. He has now recorded five 20-point games this season and has secured at least five rebounds in every contest.
“It was a hard-nosed, tough game,” Boozer said after the game. “Obviously, [Florida has] a huge front line, so a big thing we talked about was rebounding, being tough. We where super tough today.”
Isaiah Evans added 13 points, including the pivotal three-pointer with 21 seconds remaining that regained the lead for Duke. Patrick Ngongba II showcased his versatility,finishing with 11 points,five rebounds,five assists,and a career-best five blocks.
Defensive Grit seals the Deal
Duke’s defense proved crucial in securing the win. The Blue Devils held Florida to a season-low 66 points, limiting them to 25-of-67 (.373) shooting from the field. Duke entered the game leading the nation in field goal percentage defense (.340) and continued to demonstrate their dominance in that area.
The game’s final moments were defined by defensive plays.With 1.5 seconds left, Maliq Brown deflected Florida’s attempted inbounds pass, securing the victory with a steal. Earlier, Caleb Foster forced a crucial turnover and dove on the loose ball in the dying seconds.
“There is a lot to learn, a lot to grow from,” said Duke head coach Jon Scheyer. “Really proud. The crowd was incredible. Incredible. I thought our players felt the energy the whole night.”
Game Recap: A Back-and-forth Battle
The first five minutes saw a tight exchange of baskets before Brown slammed home a point at the 13:12 mark, giving Duke an 11-10 advantage. Florida briefly regained the lead with a three-pointer, but Duke responded with a dominant 17-5 run to close the first half, taking a 36-24 lead into intermission, fueled by nine points from Boozer.
Florida mounted a strong comeback after halftime, scoring 14 of the first 18 points to pull within two, 40-38. However, Duke countered with back-to-back layups from Brown and Evans, extending their lead back to nine.
The Gators refused to go away, embarking on a 14-5 run to tie the score at 59 with just over two and a half minutes remaining. Boozer then connected on a deep three-pointer and a contested layup to put Duke back in front, 64-61.
Florida briefly surged ahead with five consecutive points, capped by a three-pointer with under a minute to play, setting the stage for Evans’ game-winning shot and Brown’s decisive steal.
Looking Ahead
No. 4 Duke (9-0) will face a notable test next as they travel to No. 7 Michigan State (8-0) for a top-10 clash at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Michigan. The game is scheduled for noon on FOX.
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