The Spectrum Center in Charlotte was electric on Thursday night as the No. 1 Duke Blue Devils narrowly escaped a determined Florida State Seminoles squad, eking out an 80-79 victory in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals. The win, which sends Duke to the tournament semifinals, was anything but routine for a team that has dominated the college basketball landscape all season.
Coming into the matchup, Duke was riding high as the top seed in the ACC and the No. 1 team in the AP Top 25, boasting a near-perfect 30-2 record (17-1 in conference play). The Blue Devils had lost just two games all year—one in non-conference action and a single blemish in ACC play against archrival North Carolina. Their opponent, Florida State, had clawed back from a rough start to the season, dropping their first five conference games before rallying to finish the regular season on a 9-3 tear and winning six of their last seven contests. The Seminoles earned their spot in the quarterfinals with a gritty 95-89 win over California just the night before, powered by a 30-point explosion from senior guard Robert McCray V.
Despite Duke’s status as a 16.5-point favorite according to DraftKings Sportsbook, the game quickly proved to be a far closer affair than the oddsmakers predicted. Florida State came out firing, refusing to be intimidated by the Blue Devils’ reputation or the raucous Charlotte crowd. By halftime, the Seminoles had seized the lead, putting Duke on the ropes and threatening to pull off a monumental March upset.
“We just wanted to play our game and not back down,” said Florida State’s Robert McCray V, who had been the hero against Cal and looked poised to repeat his performance. “Duke is a great team, but we believed we could win.”
Duke, meanwhile, found itself in unfamiliar territory—down at the break and struggling to find its rhythm. Injuries had forced head coach Jon Scheyer to shuffle his lineup, with key contributors Caleb Foster (foot) and Patrick Ngongba (foot) sidelined. That meant a heavier load for the Boozer brothers—Cameron and Cayden—and the ever-reliable Isaiah Evans.
Evans, who has grown into a larger role in the absence of Ngongba, was nothing short of spectacular. He poured in a game-high 32 points, keeping the Blue Devils within striking distance even as Florida State refused to fade. Cameron Boozer, the freshman phenom who has led Duke in scoring in 13 of the last 15 games and in rebounding for 17 straight, added 23 points of his own.
“Isaiah and Cameron really stepped up when we needed them,” said Coach Scheyer after the game. “With all the injuries, we needed someone to take charge, and they did just that.”
The turning point came midway through the second half. With the Seminoles clinging to a narrow lead, Duke unleashed a decisive 12-0 run, spearheaded by Cayden Boozer and Evans. Cayden, stepping in for the injured Foster, provided the spark Duke desperately needed, pushing the pace and attacking the rim with confidence. The run swung momentum firmly in Duke’s favor, but Florida State wasn’t done yet.
In the closing minutes, the Seminoles mounted a furious comeback. McCray V, who finished with another impressive scoring night, and his teammates chipped away at the deficit, setting up a dramatic finish. With the clock winding down, Cameron Boozer missed a contested jumper, giving Florida State one final possession and a shot at glory. The ball found its way to McCray V, whose potential buzzer-beater rimmed out, sending the Duke faithful into a collective sigh of relief.
“We knew it would come down to the last possession,” Evans remarked. “Give Florida State credit—they played their hearts out. We’re just happy to survive and advance.”
This nail-biter was a stark contrast to the teams’ previous meeting earlier in the season, when Duke edged Florida State 91-87 in a high-scoring affair. Back then, the Seminoles were mired in their early-season slump, but Thursday’s performance showed just how far they’ve come. If not for Duke’s suffocating defense and timely scoring burst, the outcome could have been very different.
For Duke, the victory highlights both their resilience and the challenges ahead. The Blue Devils’ deliberate style—ranked 292nd in the nation in adjusted tempo—means they rarely blow teams out, instead relying on methodical, disciplined play and stout defense. But as the injuries mount, depth will be tested in the coming rounds. Patrick Ngongba is expected to miss at least the remainder of the ACC Tournament, and Foster’s status remains uncertain. That puts more pressure on the likes of Evans, the Boozer brothers, and the rest of the rotation to step up in crunch time.
Florida State, meanwhile, exits the ACC Tournament with heads held high. Their late-season surge and gutsy tournament run may have put them back on the radar for postseason play, though their NCAA Tournament fate remains uncertain. Head coach Leonard Hamilton praised his team’s fight, saying, “We showed we belong on this stage. I’m proud of how our guys battled until the very end.”
Fans tuning in on ESPN or streaming through Fubo, DirecTV Stream, Sling, or ESPN+ were treated to a classic March battle—one that reminded everyone why the ACC Tournament is must-watch television. The stakes were sky-high, and the drama didn’t disappoint.
With the win, Duke (now 30-2) advances to the ACC Tournament semifinals, where they’ll face the winner of the North Carolina vs. Clemson matchup. The Blue Devils’ quest for another conference crown—and a potential top seed in the NCAA Tournament—remains alive, but Thursday’s close call is a reminder that in March, anything can happen.
The Blue Devils will look to regroup, heal up, and bring their A-game to the semifinals. For Florida State, the journey may not be over just yet, but their performance in Charlotte has already made a statement: underestimate the Seminoles at your own risk.
The ACC Tournament rolls on, with Duke’s narrow escape serving as the latest chapter in a season full of surprises, resilience, and unforgettable moments. Stay tuned—March Madness is just getting started!