College basketball scores: Duke edges Florida 67-66 last night, but Isaiah Evans’ game-winning three with under 20 seconds left will leave you speechless

College basketball scores from last night delivered pure drama as No. 4 Duke edges No. 15 Florida 67-66 in an instant classic at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Isaiah Evans hit the dagger three-pointer with 19.7 seconds remaining to keep Duke unbeaten and send college hoops fans into overdrive. The ACC/SEC Challenge thriller came down to a single possession that will be replayed endlessly.

Late-Game Drama: Florida Forces Duke into Final-Seconds Decision

The Gators mounted an improbable second-half comeback from a 15-point deficit, staging the kind of surge that defines tournament-caliber basketball. Florida’s Boogie Fland drained a three-pointer with 34.6 seconds left to put his team up 66-64, giving the defending national champions a path to victory at one of college hoops’ toughest environments.

Duke called timeout down one point with under 20 seconds to play. Coach Jon Scheyer drew up a simple action that would define the night. Evans, who entered the decisive possession 0 for 7 from three-point range, found himself perfectly positioned on the left wing. Cameron Boozer, Duke’s phenomenal freshman, made the pass that would settle the entire game.

Boozer’s Dominance Keeps Duke Perfect Against Elite Competition

Cameron Boozer became the story for Duke by scoring 29 points, including 16 first-half points that helped the Blue Devils build their lead. The freshman forward grabbed 6 rebounds and displayed the efficiency of a proven scorer, connecting on 3 three-pointers against Florida’s tough defense. Boozer has now recorded five 20-point games this season and finished with at least 5 rebounds in every contest.

Patrick Ngongba II stuffed the stat sheet with 11 points, 5 assists, 5 rebounds and 5 blocks, joining Isaiah Evans (13 points, career-high 5 blocks) in a dominant defensive performance that limited Florida severely. Duke blocked 11 shots total, only the second game this season with double-digit swats for the Blue Devils.

Stat Category	Duke	Florida
Final Score	67	66
Field Goal %	.446	.373
Rebounds	33	44
Turnovers	12	13

Duke’s Historic Start Under Jon Scheyer Continues Undefeated

The victory marked Duke’s 9-0 start under Jon Scheyer, the best opening to a season in the coach’s tenure at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Blue Devils now tie for the second-longest active win streak in the nation, trailing only Nebraska’s 12-game streak. Duke boasts a remarkable 22-game home winning streak dating back to last season.

This was Scheyer’s 98th win with the Blue Devils program. Duke continues to dominate defensively with the nation’s best field goal percentage defense at .340, holding Florida to just .373 shooting. The Blue Devils have limited all seven of their top-25 opponents this season below their scoring averages—a remarkable feat showing elite defensive fundamentals throughout the roster.

Florida Shows Heart But Defensive Prowess Couldn’t Close

Despite the loss, Florida demonstrated why defending national champions never go away quietly. The Gators trailed 36-24 at halftime but absolutely dominated the glass in the second half, finishing with a 44-33 rebounding advantage. Florida grabbed 20 offensive rebounds and scored 13 second-chance points after halftime, nearly pulling off the upset at a hostile environment.

The Gators (5-3) lost by a single point despite allowing only 4 assists on 25 field goals made—a testament to Duke’s difficult defensive schemes. Thomas Haugh led Florida with 24 points, but it wasn’t enough. Ultimately, the game came down to Duke’s ability to make the biggest shot when it mattered most, with Maliq Brown adding the finishing touch by deflecting Florida’s final inbounds pass to seal the victory.

“That was a big time game. Hats off to Florida. They’ve got winning DNA. To be able to win a game where you do not score as much, both ways, it was a ‘grind it out’ type of game. I thought our guys made big-time winning plays. Isaiah just had to hang tough. To make that shot, in the moment, and that execution—Cam made a great pass.”

— Jon Scheyer, Duke Head Coach

What Does This Victory Mean for Duke Basketball Moving Forward?

Duke proved last night that championships are won on nights when you don’t shoot well and still find ways to execute in crunch time. The Blue Devils hit just .269 from three but won anyway through elite defense and clutch playmaking. This team showed the mental toughness required to stay unbeaten against the defending national champions in a tournament-like atmosphere.

Next, Duke travels to East Lansing to face No. 7 Michigan State (8-0) on Saturday in what promises to be a top-10 showdown broadcast live on FOX. Meanwhile, Florida heads to Madison Square Garden to face No. 5 UConn next Tuesday—a matchup between two of the three teams that won NCAA titles in the past three years. The ACC/SEC Challenge delivered exactly the kind of drama that defines college hoops.

Sources

• ESPN – Official game recap and final score statistics
• GoDuke.com – Duke Athletic Department official reporting
• USA Today – Key takeaways and analysis