Photos: Duke narrowly avoids upset by Florida State in ACC Tournament quarterfinals
By Ethan Hyman ,
Robert Willett and
Kaitlin McKeown
Duke’s Dame Sarr (7) and Nikolas Khamenia (14) celebrate with Cayden Boozer (2) after he made’the basket while being fouled in the second half DukeÕs 80-79 victory over Florida State in the quarterfinals of the 2026 ACC MenÕs Basketball Tournament at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Ethan Hyman
ehyman@newsobserver.com
No. 1 seed Duke struggled to defeat eighth-seeded Florida State 80-79 in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C.
The Blue Devil were without junior guard Caleb Foster, out with a right foot fracture, and sophomore center Patrick Ngongba, who is dealing with soreness in his foot.
Duke, who won the 2025 ACC Tournament title despite injuries to Maliq Brown and Cooper Flagg, will look to continue its eight game win streak.
Duke’s Patrick Ngongba II and Caleb Foster take selfies with fans before Duke’s game against Florida State in the quarterfinals of the 2026 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, March 12, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Duke’s Cameron Boozer (12) celebrates after making the basket while being fouled in the first half of Duke’s game against Florida State in the quarterfinals of the 2026 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, March 12, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Duke’s Cameron Boozer (12) looks for room while defended by Florida State's Chauncey Wiggins (7) and Lajae Jones (10) during the first half of Duke’s game against Florida State in the quarterfinals of the 2026 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, March 12, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Duke’s Nikolas Khamenia and Florida State's Thomas Bassong battle for a loose ball during the second half of the Blue Devils’ 80-79 win in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com
Duke’s Dame Sarr (7) is fouled while battling for the ball with Florida State's Martin Somerville (1) during the first half of Duke’s game against Florida State in the quarterfinals of the 2026 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, March 12, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Duke’s Isaiah Evans (3) celebrates as time runs out in Duke’s 80-79 victory over Florida State in the quarterfinals of the 2026 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, March 12, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Florida State's Thomas Bassong (3) fouls Duke’s Nikolas Khamenia (14) during the first half of Duke’s game against Florida State in the quarterfinals of the 2026 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, March 12, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Duke’s Cameron Boozer (12) pulls in the rebound during Duke’s 80-79 victory over Florida State in the quarterfinals of the 2026 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, March 12, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Duke head coach Jon Scheyer talks with Isaiah Evans during the first half of the Blue Devils’ ACC Tournament quarterfinal game against Florida State on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com
Duke’s Nikolas Khamenia drives against Florida State's Alex Steen (25) during the first half of the Blue Devils’ ACC Tournament quarterfinal game on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com
Duke head coach Jon Scheyer motions to his players in the second half of DukeÕs 80-79 victory over Florida State in the quarterfinals of the 2026 ACC MenÕs Basketball Tournament at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, March 12, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Duke head coach Jon Scheyer watches during the first half of Duke’s game against Florida State in the quarterfinals of the 2026 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, March 12, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Duke’s Cameron Boozer is fouled by Florida State's Chauncey Wiggins during the first half of the Blue Devils’ ACC Tournament quarterfinal game on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com
Duke’s Nikolas Khamenia (14) saves the ball from going out of bounds in the second half of Duke’s 80-79 victory over Florida State in the quarterfinals of the 2026 ACC MenÕs Basketball Tournament at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, March 12, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Duke’s Isaiah Evans (3) drives by Florida State's Martin Somerville (1) during the first half of Duke’s game against Florida State in the quarterfinals of the 2026 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, March 12, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Duke forward Isaiah Evans (3) confers with coach Jon Scheyer, during the first half against Florida State on Thursday, March 12, 2026, during the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
Florida State's Lajae Jones (10) shoots as Duke’s Maliq Brown (6) defends during the first half of Duke’s game against Florida State in the quarterfinals of the 2026 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, March 12, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Florida State's Robert McCray V (6) and Florida State's Martin Somerville (1) pressure Duke’s Cayden Boozer (2) during the first half of Duke’s game against Florida State in the quarterfinals of the 2026 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, March 12, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Duke’s Isaiah Evans (3) drives by Florida State's Martin Somerville (1) during the first half of Duke’s game against Florida State in the quarterfinals of the 2026 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, March 12, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Duke forward Isaiah Evans (3) launches a three-point shot in the first half against Florida State on Thursday, March 12, 2026, during the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. Evans scored 22 points in the first half. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
Duke forward Cameron Boozer (12) secures an offensive rebound between Florida State forwards Alex Steen (25) and Thomas Bassong (3) in the first half on Thursday, March 12, 2026, during the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
Duke forward Isaiah Evans (3) drives to the basket off a screen by Maliq Brown (6) in the first half against Florida State on Thursday, March 12, 2026, during the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
Duke forward Cameron Boozer (12) works to gain control of the ball between Florida State forwards Alex Steen (25) and guard Martin Somerville (1) in the first half on Thursday, March 12, 2026, during the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
Duke guard Nikolas Khamenia (14) and forward Isaiah Evans (3) applaud a four point lead over Florida State in the first half on Thursday, March 12, 2026, during the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
Florida State's Alex Steen reacts following Duke’s 80-79 win over the Seminoles in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com
Duke’s Cayden Boozer drives to the basket against Florida State's Lajae Jones during the second half of the Blue Devils’ 80-79 win in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com
Duke’s Caleb Foster and Patrick Ngongba II cheer on the Blue Devils in the second half of Duke’s 80-79 victory over Florida State in the quarterfinals of the 2026 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, March 12, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
This story was originally published March 12, 2026 at 8:13 PM.
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