02/21/26 08:06:00
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02/21 20:04 CST Cameron Boozer and No. 3 Duke knock off No. 1 Michigan 68-63 as
top 2 teams lose on same day
Cameron Boozer and No. 3 Duke knock off No. 1 Michigan 68-63 as top 2 teams
lose on same day
By BEN NUCKOLS
AP Sports Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) --- Cameron Boozer scored 18 points and No. 3 Duke handed
another neutral-site loss to fellow blueblood Michigan, knocking off the
top-ranked Wolverines 68-63 on Saturday night in a raucous possible Final Four
preview in the nation's capital.
The Wolverines had won 11 straight and replaced Arizona atop the AP Top 25 this
week. The now-fourth-ranked Wildcats won at No. 2 Houston earlier Saturday,
making it the first time since Feb. 8, 2025, that the teams ranked Nos. 1 and 2
in the poll lost on the same day.
With his dad, former Duke and NBA star Carlos Boozer, in attendance, Cameron
Boozer hit a 3-pointer with 1:55 left to give the Blue Devils a 64-58 lead.
Isaiah Evans added 14 points for the Blue Devils (25-2), who could return to
Capital One Arena in just over a month for the East Regional of the NCAA
Tournament.
In the programs' first meeting in 12 years, Duke improved to 23-8 against
Michigan and 7-0 on neutral courts, a series that includes the 1992 national
title game. Michigan hasn't beaten Duke since Dec. 6, 2009 in Ann Arbor.
Yaxel Lendeborg scored 21 points for the Wolverines (25-2), who had not lost
since a home defeat by three points to Wisconsin on Jan. 10.
While second-year coach Dusty May's Michigan squad has been hailed for
unselfishness, Jon Scheyer's Blue Devils showed more versatility on the
offensive end. Caleb Foster scored 12 points and Patrick Ngongba II added 11 as
Duke found soft spots in the Wolverines' top-rated defense.
Meanwhile, Duke won the rebounding battle 41-28 as Michigan settled for too
many one-and-done perimeter shots, going 6 of 25 from 3-point range.
Fans traded chants of "Let's go Duke!" and "Let's go Blue!" for the rare
must-see matchup in a city starved for meaningful basketball. ESPN's "College
GameDay" was broadcast from inside the arena during the teams' morning
shootaround, and tickets for upper-level seats were selling in the $600 range
in the hours before the game, with courtside seats upwards of $6,000.
Defense had the upper hand in a spirited, physical first half in which neither
team led by more than five points. Ngongba was fouled while fighting for a
rebound with 0.8 seconds left and made both free throws to give the Blue Devils
a 35-33 lead at the break.
Surprisingly, Duke never trailed again.
Up next
Michigan: Hosts Minnesota on Tuesday night.
Duke: At Notre Dame on Tuesday night.
___
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