The Duke Blue Devils proved once again why they’re a force to be reckoned with in college basketball, mounting a stunning second-half comeback to defeat the No. 20 Louisville Cardinals 84-73 on Tuesday night at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky. This top-25 ACC showdown delivered on its promise of high drama, momentum swings, and standout performances, leaving fans buzzing about Duke’s resilience and the Cardinals’ hot-and-cold fortunes.
Coming into the contest, the Blue Devils were riding high with a 13-1 overall record and a perfect 2-0 start in ACC play, having narrowly edged out Florida State 91-87 just days earlier. Veteran guard Isaiah Evans had shined in Tallahassee, dropping a career-high 28 points, while Duke’s supporting cast—Cameron Boozer, Caleb Foster, Dame Sarr, and Patrick Ngongba—had all reached double figures. Louisville, meanwhile, entered with an 11-3 record and was licking its wounds after a tough 80-76 loss to Stanford, their first ACC defeat of the season. The Cardinals were also grappling with the absence of star freshman Mikel Brown Jr., who’d averaged 16.6 points and 5.1 assists before a back injury sidelined him.
From the opening tip, Louisville looked determined to shake off its recent loss. The Cardinals came out blazing, knocking down four consecutive three-pointers and finishing the first half with a remarkable 10 makes from deep. Aly Khalifa, who had been shooting just 27.8% from beyond the arc this season, caught fire with four triples. Ryan Conwell was equally impressive, making his first three attempts and leading all scorers with 16 points in the first half. The Cardinals never trailed before halftime, stretching their lead to 47-38 as Duke struggled to find its rhythm, shooting just 36.4% from the field. The Blue Devils’ star freshman, Cameron Boozer, kept Duke within striking distance with 14 first-half points, while Evans added 13.
But as any seasoned basketball follower knows, a game isn’t won in the first half. The second half belonged to Duke, who flipped the script in dramatic fashion. After Louisville opened the period 0-for-6 from three-point range, Duke’s offense erupted, shooting a blistering 77.8% from the floor. The Blue Devils outscored the Cardinals 46-26 after the break, methodically chipping away at the deficit before seizing control for good.
The turning point came with just over 13 minutes left, when a pair of Boozer free throws capped a 7-0 Duke run and put the Blue Devils ahead 54-53—their first lead of the night. Louisville, suddenly ice-cold from deep, couldn’t stem the tide as Duke’s defense tightened and their offense found its groove. Caleb Foster, who had been relatively quiet in the first half, caught fire in the second, pouring in 16 of his career-high 20 points to fuel Duke’s surge. Evans, fresh off his career night against Florida State, remained a steadying force, finishing with 23 points and four made threes.
Cameron Boozer, the Wooden Award favorite and Duke’s engine all season, delivered another signature performance. He led all scorers with 27 points on an ultra-efficient 10-of-12 shooting, adding timely buckets and clutch free throws when his team needed them most. Foster’s emergence as a second-half sparkplug gave Duke the edge, while the bench—especially the likes of Dame Sarr—provided valuable minutes to keep the pressure on Louisville’s tired legs.
On the other side, Louisville’s offense sputtered without Brown’s playmaking. The Cardinals’ shooters, so lethal in the first half, found far fewer open looks as Duke’s defense clamped down. Conwell, who’d led the team with 19.6 points per game entering the contest, managed to keep Louisville afloat but couldn’t recapture his early magic. The Cardinals were also slightly out-rebounding the Blue Devils in the first half, but that advantage evaporated as Duke’s energy and execution ramped up.
“We just had to trust each other and keep grinding,” Boozer said postgame, his jersey soaked and a wide grin on his face. “Coach told us at halftime to stay locked in, and we knew if we played our game, we’d have a chance.”
Head coach Jon Scheyer echoed those sentiments, praising his team’s composure and adaptability. “That was a gut-check win,” Scheyer remarked. “Louisville came out swinging, and we didn’t panic. Our guys made adjustments, and the second-half effort was tremendous.”
For Louisville, the loss stings, but there were bright spots. Khalifa’s shooting barrage in the first half gave the home crowd plenty to cheer about, and Conwell continued to show why he’s one of the ACC’s most dangerous scorers. However, the absence of Brown was glaring, as the Cardinals’ offense lacked its usual rhythm and struggled to create quality shots under pressure.
The victory pushes Duke to 14-1 overall and a sparkling 3-0 in conference play, solidifying their case as national title contenders and giving them a crucial early-season ACC road win. The Blue Devils’ defense, ranked 16th nationally in adjusted efficiency, demonstrated its mettle after a shaky start, while their offense showcased the depth and versatility that has defined their season so far. Duke also extended its winning streak over Louisville to eight games, now leading the all-time series 18-9.
Looking ahead, Duke faces another stiff test as they return home to host No. 25 SMU on Saturday, January 10, in yet another top-25 clash. The Blue Devils will be eager to keep their momentum rolling and continue building their NCAA tournament resume. For Louisville, the schedule doesn’t get any easier, but with a chance for redemption when they visit Duke later this month, the Cardinals will look to regroup, get healthier, and reignite their outside shooting.
Fans who tuned in on ESPN or streamed the action on Fubo witnessed a classic ACC battle—one that started with Louisville’s fireworks but ended with Duke’s relentless will to win. As the conference race heats up, both teams have plenty to play for, but on this chilly January night in Louisville, it was the Blue Devils who left the KFC Yum! Center with the statement victory.
The road ahead is long, but with performances like these, Duke is setting the pace in the ACC, while Louisville searches for answers and a path back to their early-season form. The rematch in Durham promises to be must-see basketball.
