Duke Sweeps ACC Title in Dramatic 81-76 Thriller!
Mar 14, 2026; Charlotte, NC, USA; Virginia Cavaliers guard Malik Thomas (1) defends Duke Blue Devils forward Cameron Boozer (12) during the men’s ACC Conference Tournament Championship at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images Isaiah Evans scored 20 points, Cameron Boozer made two free throws with 3. 9 seconds to seal the game and No.
1 Duke defeated No. 10 Virginia 74-70 on Saturday night for its second straight Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament championship under coach Jon Scheyer and its third title in the past four years. Cayden Boozer had 16 points, and Cameron Boozer finished with 13 points, eight rebounds and eight assists as the Blue Devils (32-2) extended their winning streak to 11 games heading into the NCAA Tournament as the likely No.
1 overall seed. Malik Thomas had 18 points and Sam Lewis had 17 for Virginia (29-5) in a game in which neither team led by more than seven points and featured 16 lead changes. Ugonna Onyenso had nine blocks and finished with an ACC Tournament record with 20 over three games.
Tim Duncan had the previous record of 14 in 1995. The Cavaliers came into the game 1-32 all-time against No. 1-ranked opponents — and 0-17 against top-ranked Duke teams — and were blown out by the Blue Devils 77-51 two weeks ago at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
But Virginia never looked intimidated, even after Duke threatened to pull away late in the first half after building a 36-29 lead when Evans knocked down a 3 and Cayden Boozer — who had 14 points before the break — scored on a fastbreak dunk off a Virginia turnover. It was back and forth from there until Cayden Boozer put back a weakside rebound to put the Blue Devils up for good at 68-66 with 2:50 left. The Cavaliers couldn’t get a shot off in time in their next possession and Duke seized the momentum with Evans hitting two free throws for a 70-66 lead.