Duke Blue Devils captured the ACC Championship after defeating Virginia Cavaliers 74–70 in a tightly contested title game on Saturday night in Charlotte.
The championship matchup delivered drama until the final seconds. Duke built a narrow lead late in the second half and then held off Virginia’s comeback attempt to secure the conference crown. With the victory, the Blue Devils improved to 32–2 on the season and claimed their second consecutive ACC Tournament title.
Isaiah Evans led Duke with 20 points and provided several key plays in the closing minutes. Meanwhile, Cayden Boozer added 16 points and continued his strong tournament run. Cameron Boozer also made a major impact despite shooting struggles. He finished with 13 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists while making crucial free throws in the final seconds.
Virginia stayed competitive throughout the game and pushed Duke until the final possession. Malik Thomas led the Cavaliers with 18 points, while Sam Lewis contributed 17. Additionally, defensive standout Ugonna Onyenso anchored Virginia’s interior defense and recorded several blocks during the game. Check the boxscore here.
The contest featured multiple lead changes and intense defensive sequences. Duke entered halftime with a small advantage and maintained that margin for much of the second half. However, Virginia repeatedly closed the gap and kept the outcome uncertain until the closing seconds.
Claim Now Duke had a great ACC Championship run crowned by a win over Virginia
Duke’s path to the ACC Championship included a strong semifinal performance. The Blue Devils defeated Clemson Tigers men’s basketball 73–61 to secure their place in the final. Cameron Boozer dominated that game with 24 points, 14 rebounds, and five assists as Duke controlled the matchup from the first half.
On the other side of the bracket, Virginia reached the championship game after a dominant semifinal victory. The Cavaliers defeated Miami Hurricanes men’s basketball 84–62. Ugonna Onyenso led the effort with 17 points and four blocks, while Thijs De Ridder and Sam Lewis each scored 16 points. Virginia shot more than 52 percent from the field in that game and built a lead that reached 26 points late in the second half.
Because of these convincing semifinal performances, the ACC final featured the conference’s top two seeds. Both teams entered the championship game with strong momentum and impressive tournament runs.
With the ACC title secured, Duke now heads into Selection Sunday as one of the strongest contenders for a No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. Meanwhile, Virginia’s strong tournament performance still positions the Cavaliers well for March Madness despite the narrow loss.
