No. 3 Duke Tops No. 1 Michigan, 68-63

Saturday, February 21

Washington, D.C.

6:30 p.m.

Duke University

25-2,13-1ACC

Michigan

25-2,15-1Big Ten

Michigan

Duke

No. 3 Duke Tops No. 1 Michigan, 68-63

2/21/2026 8:55:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Duke Quotes (PDF)Postgame Notes (PDF)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a battle of top-three teams that did not disappoint, No. 3 Duke edged No. 1 Michigan 68-63 Saturday evening inside Capital One Arena. The Blue Devils used an elite defensive effort to seal the victory, as the Wolverines were limited to just eight field goals in final 20 minutes and held to their lowest point total of the season.

Cameron Boozer nearly finished with a triple double, totaling 18 points, including seven of Duke's final nine, 10 rebounds and seven assists, as well as two blocks. Patrick Ngongba II turned in 11 points, two blocks and six boards, including a key offensive rebound in the final minute to help Duke's offensive effort. Isaiah Evans (14) and Caleb Foster (12) also reached double digits for the Blue Devils.

Duke (25-2) has won three of its last four meetings with the nation's top-ranked team, also defeating Gonzaga, 84-81, on Nov. 26, 2021, and Syracuse, 66-60, on Feb. 22, 2014. When the Blue Devils are ranked in the top five, they have won six consecutive meetings with a top-ranked squad.

HOW IT HAPPENED

After Michigan (25-2) opened the game snagging a 4-0 lead, Duke answered with an Isaiah Evans dunk and Dame Sarr three pointer, at 17:42, to quickly erase the early deficit.
With Duke ahead 10-8, Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg converted a three-point play to put the Wolverines up 11-10. A dunk by Maliq Brown sent the Blue Devils into the first media timeout with a 12-11 lead.
The Wolverines replied with a 6-0 run out of the break to take a 17-12 advantage at 15:02.
With Duke trailing 19-14, two Cameron Boozer free throws following Aday Mara's second foul of the opening half brought the Blue Devils within three, 19-17, at 13:46.
Within the next 90 seconds, a pair of Caleb Foster threes pushed the Blue Devils back in front, 22-21, at 12:23.
The defenses locked in and the two teams combined for just nine points during the next 6:19 with the game deadlocked at 26-26 with 6:04 left in the first half. A Boozer free throw broke the spell and put the Blue Devils ahead by one.
Michigan again had a reply, scoring six of the next eight points, four off L.J. Cason driving layups, to lead 32-29 at the final media break of the opening half.
After a Lendeborg free throw pushed Michigan's advantage to 33-29 with 3:11 remaining, Duke closed the half with a 6-0 spurt to lead 35-33 at intermission. Nikolas Khamenia's layup brought the Blue Devils to 33-31 before Boozer's turnaround jumper tied the game. Patrick Ngongba II's two free throws with under one second left closed the run and pushed Duke ahead.
Duke continued to push points to start the second half, extending its scoring run to 9-0 thanks to another Ngongba free throw and a Sarr layup to lead 38-33 with 18:43 to play.
Lendeborg halted the Blue Devil run with a pair of free throws to cut Duke's advantage to 38-35 at 18:25.
After trading triples, Duke was ahead 41-38 at the first media break of the second half.
Michigan cut the deficit to one at 41-40 with 15:34 to play before Duke scored 10 of the next 14 points, punctuated by a Ngongba dunk, to lead 51-44 with 9:33 remaining.
With a Foster jumper putting Duke ahead 57-49 with 5:51 to go, the Wolverines exploded with a 7-0 run, all by Mara and Lendeborg, to trail by one, 57-56, with 3:49 remaining.
The Blue Devils replied with a four quick points of their own to lead 61-56 with 2:30 left.
After a Michigan layup, the teams traded three-pointers with Duke leading 64-61 after Elliot Cadeau buried his three at 1:39.
Cadeau hit two free throws to make it 66-63 Duke with 51 ticks left, but Duke sealed it on the glass with an Ngongba offensive rebound that led to two free throws from Evans.

NOTES

Duke has played 33 opponents ranked No. 1, earning 11 victories in those matchups.
- The Blue Devils have won three of their last four meetings against the top-ranked programs in the nation, defeating Gonzaga, 84-81, on Nov. 26, 2021, and Syracuse, 66-60, on Feb. 22, 2014.
- When Duke is ranked in the top five, the Blue Devils have won six consecutive meetings with a top-ranked squad.
- Saturday was the third time Duke clashed with a No. 1-ranked Michigan team, with the Blue Devils moving to 2-1.
Duke tallied its ninth ranked victory of the season and is 9-2 against top-25 foes this season.
- The Blue Devils had already secured ranked victories over No. 7 Michigan State, No. 15 Florida, No. 20 Louisville (twice), No. 20 Clemson, No. 22 Arkansas, No. 24 SMU and No. 25 Kansas.
Across the last two seasons, Duke owns the best record in Division I college basketball, at 60-6.
The Blue Devils lead the all-time series against Michigan, 23-8.
- Duke has won four straight and 11 of the last 12 meetings against the Wolverines.
- The Blue Devils are a perfect 7-0 in neutral-site matchups with Michigan.
Duke is 21-9 when playing on Feb. 21.
- The Blue Devils are 4-0 against ranked opponents on this date.
Entering Saturday night, Duke and Michigan were the only two teams in the country ranked in the top-seven nationally in both offensive and defensive efficiency on KenPom.
- The Blue Devils ranked seventh offensively (126.1) and second on defense (89.5), while Michigan ranked fourth (128.2) and first (89.0).
The Wolverines entered Saturday's game averaging 90.6 points per game, but were held to 63, 27.6 below their season average.
- Duke's defense has held all but two of their 27 opponents below their scoring average.
Duke began Saturday's game holding its opponents to 63.2 points per game, the fifth-best scoring defense in the country.
- Michigan was limited to exactly 63 points, its season low for scoring.
Duke's defense held Michigan to just eight made shots in the second half, holding the Wolverines to 8-of-28 (.286) from the field following halftime.
Entering Saturday night, Duke topped the ACC and ranked eighth nationally for rebounding margin (+9.8). The Wolverines also entered Saturday's clash with a +9.8 margin on the glass and the 10th-best rebounding rate, at 41.5 boards per game.
- The Blue Devils outrebounded the Wolverines by 13 (41-28) and have finished with a positive margin on the glass in 23 games this season.
- Duke has finished with a double-digit margin on the glass in 14 games this season.
- The Blue Devils are the first team to finish with a double-digit advantage in rebounding against Michigan this season.
- The 28 total boards for the Wolverines ranked second-fewest for them this season, trailing only 26 rebounds in a 101-83 victory at Maryland.
Duke shot 12-of-17 (.706) from the free-throw line, including a perfect 4-for-4 in the final five minutes of the contest.
The Blue Devils finished with an advantage in three of the specialty stats, with leads in points off turnovers (9-7), points in the paint (34-24), and second-chance points (18-11).
Duke is a combined 107-36 (.748) all-time in 13 current NBA venues, including an 8-6 mark in Capital One Arena.
- The Blue Devils have won 37 of their last 47 at NBA venues, including a 4-1 record this year and a 4-1 mark last season.
- Duke has a 16-7 (.696) record in NBA facilities under Jon Scheyer, including a 13-4 (.765) ledge in the past three seasons.
Cameron Boozer led the Blue Devils in points (18), rebounds (10) and assists (7), finishing just three helpers shy of a triple-double.
- Boozer tallied his 15th double-double of the season and has scored at least 14 points in every game this season.
- The freshman scored seven consecutive points for Duke in the waning minutes of the contest, including a key three-pointer to put Duke in front by six, 64-58, with less than two minutes to play.
- Boozer also swatted two shots, tied for the team lead.
Isaiah Evans posted 14 points, including two three-pointers and two free throws to ice the win in the final seconds.
Caleb Foster chipped in 12 points, highlighted by consecutive trifectas in the first half.
- The junior guard grabbed four rebounds and dished four dimes.
Patrick Ngongba II rounded out the double-digit scoring with 11 points. He added six rebounds, two blocks and two assists.
Nikolas Khamenia grabbed nine rebounds off of the bench, matching his career-high that he set at Michigan State on Dec. 6, 2025.
Maliq Brown led the team in steals with a pair of takeaways.

QUOTES

"Well, that was a game that didn't feel like that it was played in February, that felt like a March or April game. Obviously, we have a ton of respect for Michigan, their staff, how good they are. I thought it was just a big-time game where our guys were ready to compete at a high level. The eight guys that played, I just thought, the starting group obviously did a lot of really good things. I thought just the way the eight guys stepped up was huge. I think about [Nikolas Khamenia] having nine rebounds. Caleb [Foster] gets two fouls, Isaiah [Evans] gets two fouls in that first half, he came in and just getting the loose balls was huge. Cayden [Boozer], in that second half, we were having a little trouble scoring there. And in the pick-and-roll reads, he had some great looks to [Patrick Ngongba II], created some great shots. Maliq [Brown's] defense and activity. Caleb got us off to a really good start. Hit a couple threes, his defense throughout. I look at the decision-making. I think that was big for us tonight. And then [Cameron Boozer], he's doing everything. Assists, rebounds, scoring it, taking care of the ball. Really proud of this win. We're going to enjoy this tonight. Know there's a lot more we can do, and have to do, and keep learning and keep growing." - Duke head coach Jon Scheyer
"It always feels good to get a good win like this against a very talented Michigan team. I think it speaks to our togetherness and steps that we take as a team throughout the whole season. ... It definitely felt like a tournament game. Obviously going against Michigan, and then having the neutral site and the environment, both Michigan and Duke fans, it was a great environment to play in." - Duke junior guard Caleb Foster

UP NEXT

No. 3 Duke (25-2, 13-1 ACC) returns to conference action against Notre Dame (12-15, 3-11 ACC) on Tuesday, Feb. 24.
The Blue Devils and Fighting Irish tip off inside Purcell Pavilion at 7 p.m., live on ESPN.

To stay up to date with Blue Devils men's basketball, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeMBB".

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