Duke’s 67-66 win over No. 15 Florida on Tuesday night wasn’t just a victory-it was a gritty, momentum-swinging statement that showed this young Blue Devils squad knows how to take a punch and throw one right back.
CAM'S COOKIN 🧑🍳🧑🍳 pic.twitter.com/FtHPdJaG4r
— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) December 3, 2025
Early on, Duke came out firing from deep-literally. Their first seven shots were all from beyond the arc, and while they hit three of them, it wasn’t until nearly seven minutes in that they took their first shot inside the paint.
That perimeter-heavy approach kept things tight early, with the lead bouncing back and forth. But once Duke shifted gears and started attacking the interior, the game began to tilt in their favor.
That shift was powered by the frontcourt duo of freshman Cameron Boozer and sophomore Patrick Ngongba, who put on a clinic in paint dominance. Boozer, already showing the poise of a seasoned vet, was relentless around the rim.
Ngongba, meanwhile, brought a physical edge that Florida struggled to match. Together, they accounted for two-thirds of Duke’s first-half scoring, helping the Blue Devils take a commanding 36-24 lead into the break.
Defensively, Duke locked in. Florida’s Thomas Haugh had 13 points by halftime, but the Blue Devils made key adjustments to slow him down after the break.
Big Pat up top 💪 (ESPN) pic.twitter.com/iDK2i5dp4o
— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) December 3, 2025
And while Duke’s offense cooled off early in the second half, Florida came out swinging-ripping off a 9-2 run that forced head coach Jon Scheyer to call timeout just minutes in. The Gators kept pushing, trimming the lead to two at 40-38.
That’s when Isaiah Evans stepped into the spotlight.
The sophomore guard had been quiet up to that point, but he flipped the script in a hurry. First, he slipped through traffic for a crafty layup, then turned around and swatted a shot on the defensive end.
Moments later, Evans brought the house down at Cameron Indoor with a thunderous slam that had the Crazies on their feet. And then came the exclamation point: a perfectly timed alley-oop dime to Ngongba, who threw it down with authority.
Florida didn’t go away-they kept coming. But Duke had the answers when it mattered most.
Boozer was the engine all night, finishing with a game-high 29 points, six rebounds, two assists, and a steal. He drilled a clutch three with just over two minutes left to give Duke a 62-59 edge. Ngongba added 11 points, five boards, and five assists in a well-rounded performance that showed just how much his game has grown.
And then there was Evans, who shook off a rough shooting night from deep-he missed his first seven from beyond the arc-to bury the go-ahead triple with 21 seconds left. Talk about short memory. He finished with 13 points, one rebound, one assist, and a career-high five blocks, capping off a night where his energy was contagious.
Duke didn’t shoot the ball well from deep overall-just 7-for-26-but they made the ones that counted. And that’s what good teams do. They find ways to win even when the shots aren’t falling.
With this win, Duke extends its home winning streak to 22 games. That’s no small feat, and it’s a testament to how tough it is to walk into Cameron Indoor and come out with a win.
Next up? A true road test against No.
7 Michigan State in East Lansing. It’ll be the Blue Devils’ third straight game against a ranked opponent-and their first real taste of a hostile environment this season.
If Tuesday night was any indication, though, this Duke team is ready for the challenge.
SHOWTIME 🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶 pic.twitter.com/cfpwT3xowf
— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) December 3, 2025