In a thrilling ACC Tournament final, Cameron Boozer and the Duke Blue Devils showcased resilience and skill, clinching a 74-70 victory over Virginia. With 27.4 seconds left on the clock, the spotlight was on Boozer, a freshman phenom and leading candidate for national player of the year.
Despite a challenging night, Boozer's determination shone through as he drove right, missed a layup, but grabbed his own rebound. This crucial play allowed him to reset the shot clock and pass to Isaiah Evans, who was fouled and confidently sank both free throws.
Duke, under the guidance of coach Jon Scheyer, never relinquished their lead, securing their second consecutive ACC Tournament championship. This achievement marks the first back-to-back titles for Duke since the legendary Mike Krzyzewski era from 2009 to 2011, potentially cementing their position as the nation’s No. 1 overall seed for the upcoming NCAA Tournament.
Isaiah Evans led the Blue Devils with 20 points, supported by Cayden Boozer’s 16 and Cam Boozer’s 13, along with his eight assists and rebounds. Virginia’s Malik Thomas and Sam Lewis contributed 18 and 17 points, respectively.
The game began with both teams displaying nerves, struggling with their shooting. Duke shot 3-of-11 from beyond the arc in the first half, while Virginia managed 4-of-14. Turnovers were even, each team committing six, and they matched each other with five fastbreak points.
Duke found an edge in rebounding, leading 19 to 12. Cayden Boozer, stepping up for injured point guard Caleb Foster, was pivotal in the first half, scoring 14 points and energizing the team with his dynamic play. His father, Carlos, watched proudly as Cayden made key plays, including a fast-break dunk.
The second half mirrored the first in its symmetry. By the under-8 media timeout, both teams were shooting 4-of-9 from three-point range.
Virginia's Sam Lewis was particularly effective, hitting 3-of-4 from deep. Cam Boozer, though struggling from the arc, hit a crucial three-pointer to halt a Virginia run.
With just over three minutes remaining, Duke clung to a 66-65 lead. The Blue Devils held firm, showcasing their trademark tenacity, and closed out the game with a flourish. Cayden Boozer dribbled out the clock, as the Blue Devils celebrated their hard-fought victory in Charlotte.
Coach Scheyer, drenched in confetti, summed up the team’s mindset perfectly: “We’re not done yet.”