Duke beats Louisville in OT to repeat as ACC tournament champion

Taina Mair and Delaney Thomas both scored 19 points to lead the Blue Devils to victory.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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No. 13 Duke pulled out a 70-65 overtime victory against No. 12 Louisville to repeat as Atlantic Coast Conference tournament champion on Sunday afternoon in Duluth, Georgia. Taina Mair and Delaney Thomas both scored 19 points for the Blue Devils, who won their 10th ACC tournament overall. Imari Berry tallied 18 points and Mackenly Randolph posted 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Cardinals.

Why it matters

Duke's victory marks the second consecutive ACC tournament championship for the Blue Devils, solidifying their status as a top contender in the conference. The game was a rematch of a regular-season matchup, with Duke looking to avenge an earlier loss to Louisville.

The details

Duke trailed by 11 points in the first quarter but rallied to take a brief lead in the second quarter. The game was tied at 59-59 at the end of regulation, with Delaney Thomas scoring the game-tying layup with four seconds left. In overtime, Thomas scored the first two Duke baskets, and Riley Nelson hit a clinching 3-pointer with six seconds left to secure the victory.

  • The game was played on Sunday, March 9, 2026 in Duluth, Georgia.
  • Duke had lost two of its last three regular-season games before winning the three-game tournament sweep.

The players

Taina Mair

A key player for Duke, scoring 19 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in the championship game.

Delaney Thomas

Also scored 19 points for Duke, including the game-tying layup at the end of regulation and the first two baskets in overtime.

Imari Berry

Tallied 18 points for Louisville in the losing effort.

Mackenly Randolph

Posted a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds for Louisville.

Riley Nelson

Added 12 points for Duke, including a clinching 3-pointer in overtime.

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What they’re saying

“It was a hard-fought game, but we're proud to repeat as ACC champions. Our team showed a lot of grit and determination to battle back and win it in overtime.”

— Kara Lawson, Duke Head Coach (Duke Athletics)

What’s next

Duke will now await its seeding and matchup for the NCAA Tournament, where they will look to make a deep run and compete for a national championship.

The takeaway

Duke's repeat as ACC tournament champions demonstrates the program's continued excellence and ability to win close, high-stakes games against top conference opponents like Louisville. The Blue Devils' resilience and clutch play down the stretch will make them a formidable team in the NCAA Tournament.