Duke basketball pushed to the edge but defeats Florida State at ACC tournament

No. 1 and top-seeded Duke came to Charlotte believing it could win another ACC Tournament title even with two starters, Caleb Foster and Patrick Ngongba II, out with injuries.

No. 8 seed Florida State became the first team to make the Devils prove they can do it.

The Blue Devils did, but it took all 40 minutes before Duke emerged Thursday with an 80-79 ACC Tournament quarterfinal victory at the Spectrum Center built around 32 points from Isaiah Evans, a dominant showing on the boards and increased defensive pressure in the second half.

It was a tight, often tense game that went down to the final seconds, the final shot. After Duke’s Cameron Boozer had a shot blocked with eight seconds left, the Noles’ Robert McCray V, who had scored 25 points, had a 3-point shot from the key to win it – and missed.

Just like that it was over. McCray turned and ran down court, pulling his jersey over his face to mask the pain. The Devils could take some deep sighs and celebrate.

“We knew we were in for a big time basketball game,” Duke coach Jon Scheyer said. “If anyone has been paying attention to college basketball the last two months ... to win 10 of their last 12 games, (FSU) found something and that’s a credit to their coaching staff to kind of recreate their team.

“It was a different game for us. We had different lineups. We were in a position we hadn’t been in all year, down eight, second half. I think the character that our guys showed at that moment was big time.”

Having gotten through that first tournament test, the Blue Devils (30-2) will face Clemson in the semifinals Friday at 9:30 p.m. It’s Virginia-Miami in the first semifinal at 7 p.m. at the Spectrum Center.

The Tigers advanced with an 80-79 win of their own, holding off a last-gasp comeback by the Tar Heels.

Evans and Cam Boozer carried Duke’s offense, Evans finishing with career-high in points and tying the school record – held by sharpshooter JJ Redick – of seven made 3-pointers in a tournament game.

Boozer again had to battle his way for every basket, every free throw, every opening, closing with 23 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. His biggest assist was a pass to brother Cayden Boozer for a layup late, just before the shot clock sounded.

The Devils had a 46-25 edge on the boards and hustled for 22 offensive rebounds they turned into 24 second-chance points. That was the effort needed to survive this night.

“That’s been a staple for us all year and we’ve talked about crashing all year long,” Boozer said. “We’re a big, physical team even with Pat being out. Twenty-two is a lot of offensive rebounds.”

Cayden Boozer scored what turned out to be the winning basket with 1:01 left, sneaking in from the left side behind the FSU big men to score on a putback of an Evans miss. That put Duke up 80-77.

Blue Devils trailed 44-43 at the half and were hampered by foul problems throughout the physical game that was both a test of strength and wills.

A 19-2 Duke run in the second half – a product of aggressive defense and willingness to push the pace with the ball – provided the Devils a cushion and some breathing room.

A deep Cam Boozer 3 with 4:20 left made it a 75-67 lead, but the Noles answered with a 3 from Lajae Jones, then made it a 75-72 game on a McCray drive

Duke’s Evans bombed in a 3. Jones, who had 28 points, did the same for FSU. Back and forth it went.

With Foster and Ngongba sidelined with foot injuries, Duke’s starting lineup for their ACC opener was predictable: Cam and Cayden Boozer, Brown, Evans and Sarr.

But it would change, often, the Blue Devils. Cayden Boozer had some quick foul trouble. Brown had the same. Scheyer had to keep juggling.

At one point, Duke had the Boozer brothers, Khamenia, Sarr and Darren Harris on the court together. That combo had been together only a handful of minutes this season.

Foster and Ngongba stayed active, doing their best during timeouts to offer advice and support.

“Caleb was in every huddle, talking, and was incredible,” Scheyer said. “Pat’s energy was great.

“That’s what we put our focus towards. No excuses. We have to step up with the team we have. We have to figure this out, though. I thought (FSU) put us in some tough positions.”

In the second half, the Noles (18-15) seemingly were building, possession by possession. Their combination of man defense mixed with some 2-3 zone looks kept the Devils guessing and off balance at times.

When Robert McCray V knocked in a 3 off transition, FSU’s lead was 59-51, forcing a Duke timeout with 13:01 to play.

But Cam Boozer scored on a putback, and after an offensive board from Brown, nailed a 3-pointer from the key. A fast-break layup by Evans later trimmed the 8-point lead to 59-58 and FSU was the team needing a time with 11:10 showing.

Duke continued to surge, tightening its defense and getting points in transition. In its half court set, the Devils got a big basket from Cayden Boozer – off a Cam Boozer pass – for 3-point play and 70-61 lead.

A number of factors were at play in the opening half, which ended with FSU taking a 44-43 lead on a last-second drive by McCray.

Duke had enough chances at the foul line but missed nine of 20 free throws. That’s leaving a lot of points at the line in what would be a tight game.

The Noles, who never pass on a 3-pointer, whether open or even somewhat open, were 7-of-15 from distance as Martin Somerville, Chauncey Wiggins and Lajae Jones each had a pair of 3-point makes.

Florida State was 18-of-34s on their 3’s Wednesday in their 95-89 win over California in their ACC opener, and simply kept it going.

That offset the constant threat of Evans, whose quick-trigger shooting touch had him knock down five of nine from the arc, “holstering” his gun on a few.

A freshman guard, Cayden Boozer got the start for the ACC opener with Foster out and had some shaky moments. He picked up two fouls and soon took a seat after picking up his second foul six minutes into the game – the second foul after Boozer was double-teamed near midcourt, turned the ball over and then reached and fouled.

It also slowed Duke when Brown got his second, and on something of a phantom call. Brown had a team-high eight rebounds in the opening half, five on the offensive end, frustrating FSU coach Luke Loucks, who was gritting his teeth on the sideline. Brown also blocked two shots in the half

This story was originally published March 12, 2026 at 9:26 PM.

Chip Alexander

The News & Observer

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In more than 40 years at The N&O, Chip Alexander has covered the N.C. State, UNC, Duke and East Carolina beats, and now is in his 15th season on the Carolina Hurricanes beat. Alexander, who has won numerous writing awards at the state and national level, covered the Hurricanes’ move to North Carolina in 1997 and was a part of The N&O’s coverage of the Canes’ 2006 Stanley Cup run.