FROM COLLAPSE TO CLIMAX: Duke Star Saves Unbeaten Streak With Insane Clutch Three After Near-Collapse Against Wounded Florida Champions
DURHAM, N.C. — The scoreboard reads 67-66. The No. 4 Duke Blue Devils remain undefeated at 9-0. But the final box score cannot capture the stomach-churning, high-stakes drama of the final two minutes at Cameron Indoor Stadium, where the entire season’s narrative nearly collapsed under the weight of a furious Florida rally.
In a game that felt like a commanding victory for 35 minutes, Duke found itself in a crisis, forced to rely on the most improbable of heroes and an unheralded defensive play to escape the defending national champions. The final 30 seconds of this ACC/SEC Challenge thriller provided a stunning lesson in survival, and exposed a recurring flaw the Blue Devils must address before their toughest road test.
The Near-Fatal Implosion
Duke appeared to be in cruise control, having taken a commanding 15-point lead late in the first half behind the dominant play of freshman phenom Cameron Boozer. Boozer, who was masterful throughout, finished the night with a game-high 29 points and 6 rebounds, often looking unstoppable inside the arc.
But the second half was a different story. Florida, ranked No. 15, chipped away relentlessly, turning Duke’s sloppy turnovers (12 for the game) and cold shooting stretches (Duke went a woeful 7-for-26 from three-point range) into a dramatic momentum shift. The Florida Gators, fueled by big shots from Boogie Fland and a fierce rebounding advantage, roared back from the double-digit abyss.
Then came the shocking climax: With just 34 seconds left, Florida’s guard Boogie Fland drilled a go-ahead three-pointer, giving the Gators their first lead—66-64—since the score was 13-12 in the opening minutes. The Cameron Crazies, who had been roaring all night, went silent. A game Duke seemed destined to win easily was suddenly on the precipice of a disastrous, season-defining defeat.
The Redemption of “Slim”
Head Coach Jon Scheyer called a timeout, and the attention turned to the player who had been struggling most: Isaiah Evans, affectionately nicknamed “Slim.”
Evans, the sophomore shooting guard, had missed his previous seven three-point attempts on the night. Every shot had rattled out, adding to the collective anxiety of the crowd. Yet, with the game—and the team’s undefeated streak—on the line, Scheyer drew up the play for him.
Coming out of the huddle, Boozer drove into the lane, drew the defense, and kicked the ball out to Evans at the top of the key. Without hesitation, Evans launched the three-pointer. It tickled the twine.
67-66, Duke lead. The shot, with 19 seconds left, was a breathtaking act of defiance and a stunning example of a player overcoming his own struggles when the moment demanded a hero.
“That’s my job, I’ve got to stick it,” Evans said after the game, acknowledging the pressure. “I just had to keep telling myself, ‘It’s bigger than me, it’s not just about me, it’s about the team.’” Evans finished with 13 points, but none were bigger than the final three.
The Final, Game-Winning Act of Theft
Even after Evans’ clutch shot, the drama wasn’t over. Florida, needing only a single basket, had two possessions to win the game.
First, the Gators lost the ball on a midcourt steal by Caleb Foster, who was fouled and missed the front end of a one-and-one free throw, giving Florida a final chance at the buzzer.
With 1.5 seconds remaining, Florida prepared to inbound the ball under their own basket for a potential game-winning shot attempt. That’s when the unsung hero, forward Maliq Brown, stepped up. Known for his defensive instincts and ability to disrupt passing lanes, Brown lunged and deflected the long inbounds pass, causing a turnover as the buzzer sounded.
Brown, who also posted a productive line of 6 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals, delivered the final, game-winning defensive play—an “act of theft” that officially closed the door on the Florida champions and secured Duke’s 9-0 record.
The Question Mark Hangs Heavy
While the final result provided elation, the manner of the victory raises significant questions Duke must face immediately. This marks the second consecutive game where the Blue Devils built a comfortable lead only to nearly relinquish it in the closing moments.
Is this Duke team truly championship material, or are they a talented group that struggles with consistency and closing out opponents? The answer must come quickly, as the gauntlet only gets harder. Duke will now hit the road for a true, high-stakes road game against the undefeated, No. 7 ranked Michigan State Spartans on Saturday evening.
The Blue Devils survived the collapse, found a savior in Evans, and escaped with the win, but the hard truth is that surviving won’t be enough against the competition that lies ahead.
