Duke Edges Florida in Thriller at Cameron, But Postgame Fireworks Come From Gators' Coach
Duke basketball knows how to win at home-and Tuesday night, they reminded everyone why Cameron Indoor remains one of the toughest places to play in college hoops. In a gritty 67-66 victory over No.
15 Florida during the ACC/SEC Challenge, the Blue Devils didn’t light up the scoreboard, but they made just enough plays to walk away with their third ranked win of the season. And while Isaiah Evans’ clutch late-game heroics sealed the deal on the court, the loudest postgame moment came from Florida head coach Todd Golden, who didn’t hold back when it came to the officiating.
Let’s start with the game itself. This wasn’t a highlight reel of offensive fireworks-far from it.
Duke struggled to find rhythm on that end for stretches, but what they lacked in shot-making, they made up for with defensive grit. They forced Florida into uncomfortable looks, battled on the glass, and stayed composed in crunch time.
That composure paid off when Evans stepped up with a dagger down the stretch that ultimately made the difference.
But the postgame storyline quickly shifted to Golden, who voiced his frustrations after the Gators dropped to 5-3 on the season. Florida’s record now includes a 1-3 mark in the first two Quadrant games-a tough pill to swallow for a team that entered the year with championship aspirations. And while Golden acknowledged his team played well overall, he didn’t mince words about what he felt was a stacked deck.
“I told our guys, to win in a place like Cameron, you’ve got to outplay Duke by 10 points because you’re not going to get any 50-50 calls,” Golden said postgame. “Things aren’t going to go your way, and we certainly had a little bit of that tonight.”
That’s a bold statement, and one that’s sure to get some attention across the college basketball landscape. Golden may have been speaking from a place of frustration, but his comments hint at a deeper narrative that’s been whispered for years-Cameron Indoor is a tough place for visiting teams not just because of the talent on the floor, but because of the atmosphere, the pressure, and yes, the whistle.
To be fair, there were a few calls that raised eyebrows. Maliq Brown was hit with a Flagrant 1 in the second half after making contact near the head and neck while going for a strip.
Later, Florida big man Thomas Haugh was assessed a technical foul after flailing an elbow on a drive where he was also fouled. Both calls were borderline at best, and in a one-point game, every whistle matters.
Still, it wasn’t just Florida dealing with questionable officiating-Duke had a few calls go against them as well. That’s the nature of a physical, high-stakes game between two ranked teams.
The difference? Duke found a way to push through.
And that’s what matters most. This win marks Duke’s third over a ranked opponent already this season, and they’re doing it with a mix of young talent and defensive toughness. Evans is quickly growing into a go-to guy in big moments, and the Blue Devils are learning how to grind out wins even when their offense isn’t humming.
But there’s no time to celebrate. The non-conference gauntlet continues for Duke, with a trip to No.
7 Michigan State on deck this Saturday. After that, it’s a showdown with No.
19 Texas Tech at Madison Square Garden on December 20th. These are the kinds of games that shape a team’s identity-and come March, they’ll be the ones that define a résumé.
As for Florida, the Gators are still trying to find themselves. Guard play remains a concern, and the early-season stumbles are starting to pile up. Golden’s frustration is understandable, but his team will need to respond quickly if they want to stay in the national conversation.
Tuesday night gave us a classic Cameron finish, a clutch performance from a rising Duke star, and a postgame soundbite that’s sure to keep the college basketball world buzzing. In other words, it gave us everything we love about this sport.