did duke win last night is being answered clearly in Charlotte: Duke beat Clemson 73-61 on Friday, March 13, 2026. The win sends the top-ranked Blue Devils to the Men’s Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament championship game at the Spectrum Center. Duke will face Virginia, with tip-off scheduled for 8: 30 p. m. ET on Saturday, March 14.
What happened in Charlotte: Duke 73, Clemson 61
Duke’s path back to the ACC title game continued with a double-digit semifinal victory over Clemson, 73-61, in Charlotte, N. C. It marks the second straight season the Blue Devils will play in the championship game of the Men’s ACC Tournament in Charlotte.
Duke entered the matchup short-handed, playing without two starters. Even so, the Blue Devils made it two straight wins in the conference tournament and now move one step closer to the ACC tournament title.
Did Duke Win Last Night? The turning point and the halftime surge
did duke win last night also comes down to a decisive first-half run that broke open what had been a tight game. With Duke leading by one, 19-18, with 7: 44 left before the break, the Blue Devils accelerated and created separation.
Duke pushed its lead to 11 at 29-18 with 4: 13 left in the first half. By halftime, the Blue Devils had stretched the margin to 16, heading into the locker room up 41-22.
The Boozer brothers fueled that swing. They combined for 21 points in the first half alone, with Cameron Boozer posting 13 points, eight rebounds, and four assists before the break, while Cayden Boozer added nine points.
Key performers: Boozer brothers and a freshman spark off the bench
The Boozer brothers led the way in the semifinal win. Together, they combined for 40 points against Clemson. Cameron Boozer—identified as the ACC Player of the Year—finished with 24 points and 14 rebounds. Cayden Boozer delivered a career high with 16 points.
Duke also got a significant lift from freshman Nikolas Khamenia, who stepped up with two starters out and scored 14 points off the bench.
What’s next: Duke vs. Virginia for the ACC title at 8: 30 p. m. ET
The immediate next chapter is set: Duke will play Virginia in the ACC tournament championship game at the Spectrum Center, with tip-off scheduled for 8: 30 p. m. ET on Saturday, March 14. Duke’s semifinal result against Clemson places the Blue Devils back on the title-game stage in Charlotte for the second straight season.
The focus now shifts to whether Duke can carry the momentum from Friday’s 73-61 win into Saturday night’s championship matchup. The matchup is locked in, the time is set, and Duke is one win away from an ACC tournament title.
