Niagara arrived at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Nov. 21 facing an impossible task. The No. 5 Duke Blue Devils entered unbeaten at 5-0 with a 39-point spread. Cameron Boozer led the way for the Blue Devils with 21.6 ppg. This matchup pitted David against Goliath in every way possible.
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🔥 Quick Facts:
- Duke sits No. 5 in the AP Poll with a perfect 5-0 record.
- Niagara Purple Eagles arrived with a 2-2 record and little momentum.
- Cameron Boozer averaged 21.6 ppg and 10.4 rpg heading into Friday’s game.
- 39-point spread made this one of the largest lines of the early season.
- Greg Paulus, a former Duke player, coached Niagara against his alma mater.
The Cameron Indoor Stadium Fortress
Duke dominated at home this season. The Blue Devils hadn’t lost inside Cameron Indoor in their last 19 games. This wasn’t just a trend—it was a statement. Niagara faced a team that owned their venue completely.
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Coach Jon Scheyer’s squad showed no mercy at home. Against Indiana State, Boozer dropped 35 points on 13-for-16 shooting with 12 rebounds. That performance tied for the second-most points ever scored by a Duke freshman. The Blue Devils won that game 100-62—an absolute blowout on their home floor.
Niagara hadn’t beaten a big-time opponent on the road in years. They’d lost each of their last 5 road games against non-conference foes. Coming into Durham, North Carolina as a +39.5 underdog meant they needed something close to perfection. Even then, victory seemed impossible.
The Boozer Dynasty Effect
This game carried a unique subplot. Carlos Boozer, the legendary NBA veteran and former Duke star, watched his sons dominate college basketball. Cameron Boozer and his twin brother Cayden Boozer both played for the Blue Devils. They made history as the first members of Duke’s 2025 recruiting class, committing on Oct. 11, 2024.
Cameron led the charge on offense. He contributed 21.6 ppg, 10.4 rpg, and 4.2 apg heading into the game. Against Indiana State, he’d put on a clinic. Now he faced a Niagara team desperate to make a statement. The Boozer name connected generations—his father won a championship at Duke decades earlier.
Cayden handled point guard duties for Duke and controlled the offense. Both twins got significant playing time in the 5-0 start. Their presence elevated Duke’s talent level and bench production.
Niagara’s Roster and Recent Form
| Stat | Niagara Value | Duke Value |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Record | 2-2 | 5-0 |
| AP Poll Ranking | Unranked | No. 5 |
| Road Record | 0 wins in last 5 away games | 19-game home winning streak |
| Top Scorer | Vice Zanki | Cameron Boozer (21.6 ppg) |
| Betting Spread | +39.5 | -39.5 favorite |
Niagara arrived wanting to compete. Led by coach Greg Paulus, a former Duke player himself, they brought Vice Zanki, Josiah Sabino (21.2 ppg), and Will Shortt (16.5 ppg) as key scorers. But depth issues haunted them. Niagara lacked the talent Duke possessed across the roster.
Why This Spread Mattered
The 39-point spread reflected brutal reality. Duke won their last game by 38 points over Indiana State. The Blue Devils could play four different lineups and likely beat Niagara comfortably. This wasn’t about close competition—it was about class differences in college basketball.
For Niagara, beating the spread meant losing by less than 39. That became their focus. Playing respectable defense and avoiding routs became secondary goals. Duke entered wanting another dominant performance.
Cameron Boozer aimed to keep his incredible shooting going. He’d shot 51.5% from the field heading in. Niagara’s defense would struggle to contain his size and skill at power forward.
Looking Ahead to ACC Play
- Duke stayed unbeaten with momentum entering conference play soon.
- The Blue Devils had one more non-conference game scheduled after Niagara.
- Cameron Boozer aimed to keep averaging above 20 ppg for the full season.
- Fresh challenges awaited in the ACC against ranked opponents.
- Duke sat as a top-5 national title contender heading into January.
Can Niagara Survive the Blowout?
The real question wasn’t whether Niagara would lose. Everyone knew that. The question became: how close could they stay? A 39-point defeat looked terrible. A 30-point loss showed fight and resilience.
For Duke fans, they wanted another statement win before ACC play began. The Blue Devils had won every game decisively. Cameron Boozer had made highlight plays constantly. This feel-good story at home continued for Scheyer’s squad no matter the result.
What would separate this matchup from others? The presence of Greg Paulus on Niagara’s sideline. A Duke legend coaching against his former team created an interesting dynamic. But talent gaps don’t close based on sentiment or history.
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