In a high-stakes showdown between two college basketball giants, No. 3 Duke Blue Devils men’s basketball delivered a statement win Saturday night, knocking off No. 1 Michigan Wolverines men’s basketball 68-63 in a raucous neutral-site battle at Capital One Arena—a game that felt every bit like a Final Four preview.
Freshman standout Cameron Boozer led the way with 18 points, rising to the moment with his father, former Duke star Carlos Boozer, watching from the stands. Boozer’s biggest shot came with 1:55 remaining, when he drilled a clutch three-pointer to extend Duke’s lead to 64-58 and swing momentum firmly in the Blue Devils’ favor.
Duke (25-2), under head coach Jon Scheyer, showcased offensive balance and composure down the stretch. Isaiah Evans added 14 points, while Caleb Foster chipped in 12 and Patrick Ngongba II contributed 11, exploiting gaps in Michigan’s top-ranked defense. The Blue Devils also dominated the glass, outrebounding the Wolverines 41-28, a decisive factor in limiting second-chance opportunities.
Michigan (25-2), led by second-year head coach Dusty May, entered the contest riding an 11-game winning streak and newly perched atop the AP Top 25. However, the Wolverines struggled to find offensive rhythm, particularly from beyond the arc, shooting just 6-of-25 from three-point range. Yaxel Lendeborg paced Michigan with 21 points, but the team’s reliance on perimeter shots led to too many empty possessions.
The atmosphere in the nation’s capital matched the magnitude of the matchup. Fans filled the arena, trading chants of “Let’s go Duke!” and “Let’s go Blue!” throughout the night. The hype surrounding the game was evident well before tipoff, as College GameDay broadcast live from inside the arena, and ticket prices soared—upper-level seats reached $600, while courtside spots climbed past $6,000.
The first half lived up to expectations as a defensive slugfest, with neither team leading by more than five points. Duke took a narrow 35-33 advantage into halftime after Ngongba sank two free throws with less than a second remaining.
The victory not only snapped Michigan’s winning streak but also marked a historic moment across the sport. Earlier in the day, Arizona Wildcats men’s basketball—who had just reclaimed the No. 2 spot—also fell, making it the first time since February 8, 2025, that the nation’s top two ranked teams lost on the same day.
For Duke, the win reinforced its championship credentials and offered a glimpse of what could come in March. With the NCAA Tournament looming, the Blue Devils may find themselves back at Capital One Arena in just a few weeks—this time with even more on the line.
