Duke Survives Florida Scare, Finds Late-game Closer in 67-66 victory
The Blue Devils overcame a furious Florida comeback and discovered a reliable closer in Cameron Boozer, signaling a crucial step forward for Jon Scheyer’s young team.
Durham, NC – The echoes of past postseason collapses lingered in the air tuesday night, but No. 4 Duke proved resilient, holding off a persistent No. 15 Florida squad 67-66 in a thrilling contest. The victory improved Duke’s record to a perfect 9-0, but more importantly, it demonstrated a newfound ability to close out games – a weakness that haunted the program last season.
The game mirrored the anxieties of Duke’s recent history. A 15-point lead evaporated as Florida, fueled by a late surge, seized a 66-64 advantage with 35 seconds remaining on a Boogie Fland pull-up three-pointer. The specter of the Final Four loss to Houston, where a 14-point lead vanished in agonizing fashion, loomed large. “The nightmares…will never fully go away,” as one observer noted. A questionable shot attempt by Pat Ngongba ten seconds prior opened the door for the Gators’ comeback.
However, unlike last April, Duke responded with poise under pressure.Head coach jon Scheyer orchestrated a brilliant play, a “ghost screen” for Cameron Boozer that freed up Isaiah Evans for the go-ahead triple. Caleb Foster, exhibiting the composure of a seasoned veteran, then forced a turnover from Boogie Fland. Maliq brown’s deflection of a Duke inbound pass sealed the victory at the buzzer.
“We made those three big plays in winning time that befell it last April in the Alamodome,” a source close to the program stated.
The win wasn’t just about surviving a scare; it was about identifying a closer. Cameron Boozer emerged as that player, showcasing both toughness and basketball IQ in the clutch.His three-pointer with 2:10 remaining proved pivotal, as did his strong drive and finish against Florida’s imposing Rueben Chinyelu. Boozer finished with 29 points, six rebounds, and two assists, but his overall impact extended far beyond the box score. he created a remarkable 35 points in total, one of the top marks in the nation.
Scheyer’s growth as a coach was also on full display. Duke scored 18 points after timeouts, tying a program record under his leadership. “Duke not only has one of the most talented rosters in the sport, but it also has one sharp offensive coordinator in scheyer,” one analyst commented.
The Blue Devils will need to recover quickly, as a challenging road test awaits them on Saturday against No. 8 Michigan State in East Lansing.”Hopefully, the ice packs and ice baths in Durham are up to par because the Blue Devils will need ’em to heal up from Tuesday’s brawl ahead of Saturday’s showdown,” a team insider remarked.
Duke heads into the matchup with an unblemished record and, crucially, a defined closer – a position that felt uncertain just
