No. 4 Duke Uses Second Half Run To Close Out No. 20 Clemson In 67-54 Win

Jacob Perrine
Duke Blue Devils forward Cameron Boozer (12) is greeted by forward Dame Sarr (7) after scoring a basket during the first half against the Clemson Tigers.

In a matchup that had plenty of ACC implications behind it, the 4th-ranked Duke Blue Devils ran away with the game in the second half to beat the 20th-ranked Clemson Tigers at Cameron Indoor on Saturday to move to 12-1 in ACC play.

Boozer and Evans Torch Clemson’s Defense to Lift Duke to the Win

Were you expecting a different pair of names in Duke’s win today? It’s become almost a guarantee that neither Cameron Boozer nor Isaiah Evans will have a bad game, and that held true yet again against a stout Clemson defense. Boozer would score a game-high 18 points and snag 8 rebounds, while Evans provided ample scoring support for Boozer as he added in 17 points in a great scoring performance by both players.

The Blue Devils didn’t need much more help on offense outside of Boozer and Evans, as only three players in total finished in double figures in the scoring department for Duke. The Blue Devils did receive one surprise performance in the win, as the other Boozer brother on the roster, Cayden Boozer, dropped 12 points to provide a bit of a spark off the bench in the win. It was only the 7th game this season that he scored in double figures.

While a huge second-half surge by the Blue Devils on offense helped to build out a sizable lead for Duke, their defense played just as much of a factor in the win. The Blue Devils held Clemson to just 35% shooting from the floor and 25% from three-point range. The 54 total points scored by the Tigers also represented a season-low in points scored in a game this season.

Clemson’s ACC Road Streak Snapped In Loss

There were a couple of streaks on the line in this game, as Clemson came into the game tied for the second-longest road win streak in ACC history at 14, while Duke was looking to extend their 31-game home win streak over the Tigers. The Blue Devils last lost at home against Clemson on Jan. 4, 1995, and the Tigers will have to wait a little bit longer to attempt to snap that 31-year streak.

Much of the reason for the Tigers’ faltering in this game came due in part to the team’s lack of offensive production from almost everyone. The only two players that showed up on offense for Clemson were Carter Welling and RJ Godfrey, who finished with 12 points and 10 points, respectively. Both Welling and Godfrey were the only players to score in double figures for Clemson.

The most disappointing performances for Clemson in this game came from a pair of upperclassmen in Jestin Porter and Dillon Hunter. Both players combined for just 8 points, as each struggled mightily to find their offensive rhythm throughout the game. This game marked the second straight single-digit scoring game in a loss for both players, as Porter scored 5 points and Hunter dropped 1 point in Clemson’s loss against Virginia Tech on Wednesday.

Duke Strengthens Grip On ACC Regular Season Title

Shortly after losing their first game in ACC play against No. 11 North Carolina last week, the Blue Devils’ run at the top of the standings seemed to be in jeopardy. Fast forward a couple of games, and Duke is now in an even more comfortable position to snag their second-straight ACC regular-season title. The Blue Devils own a commanding lead over the ACC field. No. 15 Virginia, is the closest team behind Duke, as they sit just one game back of the Blue Devils.

For Clemson, this loss effectively ends their bid for the ACC regular season crown, as they now move two games behind Duke, as the Blue Devils also now own the tiebreaker over the Tigers. If the current standings hold firm heading into the final two weeks of the conference season, Virginia will have a chance at overtaking the Blue Devils for the top spot in the ACC, as both teams will face off on Feb. 28 in what could be the biggest game in the ACC this season.