The Clemson Tigers men’s basketball have built a reputation over the past two seasons as one of the toughest road teams in the ACC. Fearless. Focused. Relentless. But when the destination is Durham and the arena is Cameron Indoor Stadium, history casts a long shadow — and on Saturday night, that shadow loomed large once again.
No. 4 Duke Blue Devils men’s basketball delivered a powerful second-half surge to defeat No. 20 Clemson 67-54 in a game that felt far more lopsided than the final score suggests. The victory not only protected Duke’s home court but also snapped Clemson’s remarkable 14-game ACC road winning streak — the longest in the conference in 25 years and tied for the second-longest in league history.
For Clemson, the loss was more than just another mark in the standings. It was their 22nd straight defeat at Cameron Indoor Stadium, dropping them to 4-62 all-time in one of college basketball’s most intimidating venues. The Tigers haven’t beaten Duke in Durham since January 1995, and that three-decade drought will continue for at least another year.
Coming into the matchup, Clemson (20-5, 10-3 ACC) had been surging atop the conference standings after a 10-1 ACC start. However, back-to-back losses — first at home to Virginia Tech Hokies men’s basketball and now on the road against Duke — mark the Tigers’ first conference losing streak of the 2025-26 season. Momentum has suddenly shifted, and the road ahead in the ACC race just became far more challenging.
“I don’t think it was as much the atmosphere as just not making shots and not playing well enough,” Clemson head coach Brad Brownell said postgame. His assessment was blunt but accurate. Clemson simply could not find its rhythm offensively.
Meanwhile, Duke (23-2, 12-1 ACC) avoided falling into a tie with Clemson for first place and instead strengthened its grip on the conference race. Head coach Jon Scheyer continues to build an extraordinary home-court advantage in his tenure. The Blue Devils entered Saturday riding a 28-game home winning streak and have won 95% of their home games over the past four seasons under Scheyer’s leadership.
From the opening moments, Duke’s intensity set the tone.
Star freshman forward Cameron Boozer electrified the sold-out crowd of 9,314 just seconds into the contest. Boozer stole a pass, raced upcourt, gathered himself near the three-point line, and delivered a thunderous dunk over Clemson’s Carter Welling. The arena erupted. Among those in attendance were ACC commissioner Jim Phillips, actor Ken Jeong, and former Duke standout Cooper Flagg — all witnesses to another chapter of Cameron magic.
Boozer finished with 18 points, showcasing poise beyond his years. Guard Isaiah Evans added 17 points, knocking down 4-of-9 shots from beyond the arc and stretching Clemson’s defense to its breaking point. Their combined firepower, especially in the second half, proved too much for the Tigers to overcome.
Yet for much of the first half, Clemson managed to hang around.
Despite shooting just 32% from the field and a miserable 1-of-9 from three-point range, the Tigers trailed only 31-26 at halftime. Brownell’s squad slowed the tempo and attacked the paint, repeatedly feeding RJ Godfrey inside. Duke’s lead never exceeded eight points during the opening 20 minutes, and Clemson’s defensive effort kept the contest within striking distance.
But championship-caliber teams seize moments — and Duke did exactly that after intermission.
The Blue Devils tightened defensively, closing passing lanes and contesting nearly every shot. Clemson’s offensive struggles deepened, and the Tigers could not generate consistent perimeter production to relieve the pressure in the paint. As Duke’s confidence grew, the energy inside Cameron Indoor intensified.
Clemson forward Carter Welling led his team with 12 points, but the Tigers’ 54 total points marked a season low and their fewest in a game since a 2023 loss at Boston College. Every possession felt like a grind. Every shot required maximum effort. And against a disciplined, energized Duke defense, those efforts rarely paid off.
“I thought our defense was top-notch today,” Scheyer said. “We made it really difficult on them.”
That defensive dominance was the difference.
Duke’s ability to turn stops into transition opportunities widened the gap midway through the second half. What had once been a manageable deficit quickly ballooned into double digits. Clemson’s once-confident road aura faded under the relentless noise and pressure of Cameron Indoor Stadium.
The loss also serves as a reminder of the psychological hurdle Durham represents for Clemson. Generations of Tigers teams have entered the building with optimism, only to leave with frustration. Saturday’s outcome followed that familiar script.
Still, Clemson’s season is far from defined by this setback. At 20-5 overall, the Tigers remain firmly in NCAA Tournament contention and in the thick of the ACC race. Adversity often reveals character, and Brownell’s veteran squad now faces the challenge of responding with resilience.
For Duke, the win reinforces its status as a legitimate national contender. The blend of freshman star power, perimeter shooting, and disciplined defense makes the Blue Devils a formidable force — especially at home. With March approaching, Duke appears to be peaking at the right time.
Saturday night in Durham was not just another conference game. It was a statement. A declaration that Cameron Indoor Stadium remains one of college basketball’s ultimate proving grounds — and that Duke, once again, stands tall at the top of the ACC mountain.
For Clemson, the mission is clear: regroup, refocus, and turn disappointment into determination. Because in the ACC, redemption opportunities always await — but only for those ready to rise.
