Duke’s Boozer Carves Up the Razorbacks in Thanksgiving Thriller
While most of America was loosening its belts and fighting off a tryptophan coma, the No. 4 Duke Blue Devils were feasting on something a little different in the Windy City: the No. 22 Arkansas Razorbacks. In a Thanksgiving clash that had more back-and-forth than a family political debate, Duke pulled out a gritty 80-71 victory, proving they have the stomach for a fight.
And the main course on Duke’s menu? A heaping serving of Cameron Boozer. The freshman phenom played like a man possessed, dropping an eye-popping 35 points and snatching 9 rebounds. It was the kind of performance that makes you stand up and shout, “More, please!” every time he touched the rock.
He put the team on his back like he was carrying a sack of potatoes, and frankly, Arkansas had no answer for him.”They didn’t really have an answer for me,” Boozer said post-game, with the kind of understated confidence you love to see. You think, Cam? It was like watching a grizzly bear go after a picnic basket; there was just no stopping him.
Second Half Slugfest
This game wasn’t just a highlight reel for Boozer, though. It was a proper slugfest. After a first half that saw both teams trade blows like heavyweight fighters, Arkansas came out of the locker room swinging. They clawed their way back, and with a gutsy three-pointer from Maleek Thomas, they snatched the lead. The United Center got loud, the pressure mounted, and for a moment, it looked like Duke might choke on its Thanksgiving dinner.
The Blue Devils found themselves down by seven, and Coach Jon Scheyer saw it as a defining moment. “That was a key moment for our team, just to learn how to win some games like that,” he said. It’s one thing to blow teams out, but it’s another to get punched in the mouth and have the toughness to get back up.
Things got sloppy. Duke’s offense looked like it had a little too much gravy, fumbling the ball and missing crucial free throws. But then, Caleb Foster, who had been quiet, hit a contested three that was pure guts. It was the spark they needed. Boozer followed it up with a fast-break dunk that screamed, “We’re not done yet!”
How Duke Sealed the Deal
The final minutes were a masterclass in closing out a tough game. After Thomas hit another massive three to bring the Razorbacks within one point, it was gut-check time. Who was going to make the big plays? Enter Boozer and Foster, again. They combined for five straight points, pushing the lead back up and sucking the air out of Arkansas’s sails.
What was the secret sauce? Rebounding. According to Scheyer, that was the ballgame. “I think we got 10 of the last 11 rebounds, which, to me, is the difference.” When the game was on the line, Duke simply wanted it more. They crashed the boards with a ferocity that showed they weren’t going home with a loss.
A Star is Born on a National Stage
This wasn’t just another early-season game. This was primetime, right after the Thanksgiving NFL game, on a national stage where legends are made. And Cameron Boozer announced his arrival. He was everywhere scoring, passing, defending, and drawing fouls. He was a connector, a playmaker, and a straight-up bucket-getter.
“He can do so many different things,” Scheyer gushed about his star freshman. “I thought tonight he was a great connector for us… putting pressure on the defense and then really opening up a lot for other guys to drive, shoot, and make plays as well.”
Final Thoughts
With this hard-fought win, Duke stays undefeated and looks like a team that’s not just talented, but tough. They’ll need that grit as they head home to face No. 10 Florida. But for now, they can savor a victory as satisfying as any Thanksgiving feast.
