Duke pushed to the edge but holds off Florida State at ACC Tournament

Chip Alexander, The News & Observer on Mar 12, 2026

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — 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 with an 80-79 ACC Tournament quarterfinal victory at the Spectrum Center.

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 to win it — and missed.

Just like that it was over. McCray turned and ran down court, in obvious pain and frustration. The Devils could take some deep sighs and celebrate.

Having gotten through that first tournament test, the Blue Devils will face either North Carolina or 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.

Isaiah Evans and Cam Boozer carried Duke’s offense, Evans finishing with career-high 32 points and tying the school record — held by JJ Redick — of seven made 3-pointers in a tournament game.

Boozer again had to battle his way for every basket, closing with 23 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. His biggest assist was a pass to brother Cayden Boozer for a layup late.

Cayden Boozer scored what turned out to be the winning basket with 1:03 left, sneaking behind the defense to score on a layup on a put-back off an Evans miss.

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

Evans bombed in a 3. Jones 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, Maliq Brown, Evans and Dame Sarr.

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

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

In the second half, the Noles seemingly were building more confidence, possession by possession. Their combination of man defense mixed with some 2-3 zone looks kept the Devils guessing and off balance.

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 put-back, and after an offensive board from Brown nailed a 3-pointer from the key. A fast-break layup by Evans then 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 seem to never pass on a 3-pointer, whether open or even somewhat open, were 7 of 15 from distance as Martin Somerville, Chauncey Wiggins and Jones each had a pair of 3-point makes.

Florida State was 18 of 34 on their 3s 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