Duke edges Louisville 59-58 in ACC showdown

Toby Fournier's late block helps No. 17 Blue Devils hold off No. 6 Cardinals

Feb. 5, 2026 at 9:47pm

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In a defensive battle between ACC co-leaders, No. 17 Duke held off No. 6 Louisville 59-58 on Thursday night. Toby Fournier scored 15 points and made a crucial late block to help the Blue Devils rally from an early deficit and extend their winning streak to 14 games.

Why it matters

This was a matchup of two of the top teams in the ACC, with major conference title and NCAA Tournament implications. Duke's win on the road against a highly ranked Louisville squad boosts their resume and keeps them undefeated in league play.

The details

Duke jumped out to a 16-1 lead early, but Louisville fought back and took a brief fourth-quarter lead before the Blue Devils responded with an 11-1 run. Fournier's block of a late 3-pointer by Louisville's Imari Berry preserved the Duke lead, and the Cardinals missed a potential game-tying free throw in the final seconds.

  • Duke took a 16-1 lead early in the game.
  • Louisville twice cut the deficit to 7 points in the second quarter and 3 points in the third quarter.
  • Louisville took its first lead with 7:27 left in the fourth quarter.
  • Duke responded with an 11-1 run to go up 57-50 with 3:57 remaining.
  • Louisville's Imari Berry missed a potential game-tying free throw with 1.1 seconds left.

The players

Toby Fournier

A Duke player who scored 15 points and made a crucial late block to help the Blue Devils hold on for the win.

Riley Nelson

A Duke player who scored 13 points in the victory.

Tania Mair

A Duke player who also scored 13 points in the game.

Imari Berry

A Louisville player who missed a potential game-tying free throw in the final seconds.

Laura Ziegler

A Louisville player who scored 11 points in the loss.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

The takeaway

This hard-fought ACC battle between two top-20 teams lived up to the hype, with Duke's late defensive stand and clutch plays proving to be the difference in a close, low-scoring affair that could have major implications for the conference title race and NCAA Tournament seeding.