No. 6 Duke opened Atlantic Coast Conference play Wednesday night at Cameron Indoor Stadium with an 85–79 victory over Georgia Tech, but this was no routine win. Instead, it was a game defined by tactical creativity, resilience, and a timely defensive adjustment that completely flipped the momentum. Behind a dominant second-half performance from freshman Cameron Boozer and an unusual shift to a 1-2-2 zone defense, the Blue Devils held off a confident Yellow Jackets team that refused to fade quietly.
Duke entered the night as one of the nation’s best defensive teams, ranked fourth nationally in field-goal defense. Yet, for the first 20 minutes, Georgia Tech made that ranking look irrelevant. The Yellow Jackets torched the nets, shooting a blistering 68% from the field in the opening half and building a 43–39 lead at the break. They attacked off the dribble, hit contested jumpers, and played with an edge that kept Cameron Indoor uncomfortably quiet at times.
Georgia Tech’s guards, particularly Kowacie Reeves Jr. and Chas Kelley III, showed no fear. Reeves banked in a tough 18-footer with Cayden Boozer right in his face, while Kelley drove baseline and finished over 6-foot-11 Patrick Ngongba II in a moment that symbolized Tech’s confidence. The Jackets hit four of their first five 3-pointers and consistently beat Duke’s man-to-man defense with quick decisions and sharp ball movement.
Duke, meanwhile, struggled to find rhythm offensively in the first half. The Blue Devils fell into an early love affair with the 3-point shot, taking 12 of their first 14 attempts from beyond the arc. While Georgia Tech crowded the paint and sent extra defenders at Cameron Boozer, Duke settled for jumpers — many of them rushed or contested. By halftime, Duke was just 6-for-20 from three-point range and shooting under 37% overall.
Despite forcing 11 turnovers and getting to the free-throw line 16 times in the first half, Duke couldn’t seize control. Missed free throws loomed as an issue yet again, echoing the frustrations from the pre-Christmas loss to Texas Tech. Georgia Tech didn’t attempt a single free throw in the opening half, yet still walked to the locker room with the lead.
That’s when head coach Jon Scheyer made the decision that changed the game.
Instead of sticking stubbornly to man-to-man defense, Scheyer unveiled a 1-2-2 zone — a rare sight for Duke and one that clearly caught Georgia Tech off guard. With Maliq Brown and Dame Sarr pressuring the top of the zone and Duke’s length clogging passing lanes, the Yellow Jackets suddenly looked unsure. Shots that fell effortlessly in the first half rimmed out. Driving lanes disappeared. Decision-making slowed.
At one point, Georgia Tech missed 10 consecutive shots during a pivotal stretch of the second half. Cameron Indoor came alive, the noise swelling with every defensive stop. Duke seized the momentum, turning defense into offense and finally playing downhill.
Cameron Boozer, quiet at times early, took over with purpose. The freshman finished with 26 points and 12 rebounds, imposing his will inside while also stepping out confidently when needed. Back-to-back 3-pointers from Boozer and Caleb Foster pushed Duke ahead 70–63 with just over eight minutes remaining, marking the Blue Devils’ largest lead to that point and sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Duke’s offensive approach shifted dramatically in the second half. The Blue Devils attacked the rim, fed Boozer on the block, and used dribble penetration to collapse the defense rather than settling for perimeter shots. The result was balance: five Duke players finished in double figures, a testament to the team’s depth and adaptability.
Down the stretch, both teams returned to man-to-man defense, turning the final minutes into a chess match. Georgia Tech, to its credit, didn’t fold. Reeves drilled a clutch 3-pointer with 39 seconds left to cut Duke’s lead to 81–78, briefly silencing the crowd. But Duke responded with poise.
Cayden Boozer, making his first start of the season, delivered one of the game’s biggest shots — a calm jumper with 1:28 remaining that extended Duke’s lead to 80–75. Moments later, Cameron Boozer iced the game at the free-throw line, knocking down two shots with 28.8 seconds left.
Free throws were again an adventure for Duke, which finished 24-of-35 from the line. Still, when it mattered most, the Blue Devils made enough. Patrick Ngongba II, who struggled earlier, calmly hit two late free throws to give Duke breathing room.
The win marked Duke’s 19th consecutive home ACC opener, with the last loss coming back in the 2006–07 season against Virginia Tech. It also served as an early reminder that this Duke team can win in more ways than one — not just with talent, but with flexibility and in-game intelligence.
Georgia Tech left Cameron Indoor with a loss, but also with proof that it can challenge anyone in the ACC. Duke left with a victory — and perhaps a new defensive wrinkle that could loom large as conference play unfolds.
