Duke Dominates Virginia in ACC Showdown

No. 1 Blue Devils secure conference title with blowout win over No. 11 Cavaliers

Mar. 3, 2026 at 3:39am

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Top-ranked Duke overwhelmed No. 11 Virginia 77-51 on Saturday, securing at least a share of the Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season championship. Isaiah Evans led the Blue Devils with 19 points, while Cameron Boozer added 18 points and 9 rebounds. Virginia's Thijs De Ridder scored 16 points, but the Cavaliers shot just 29.1% from the field and were held to a season-low point total.

Why it matters

This decisive victory for Duke over a fellow ACC contender solidifies the Blue Devils' position atop the conference standings and as a top national title contender. The loss snaps Virginia's nine-game winning streak and deals a blow to the Cavaliers' hopes of catching Duke in the ACC race.

The details

Duke built an 18-9 lead early and carried a 41-26 advantage into halftime. The Blue Devils' defense contained Virginia, which shot just 29.1% from the field and 7-for-35 from 3-point range. Evans hit 5 of 9 3-pointers for Duke, while Boozer was 11-for-12 from the free throw line. An 11-0 run in the second half stretched Duke's lead to 70-43.

  • The game was played on Saturday, March 1, 2026.

The players

Isaiah Evans

A standout player for Duke, scoring 19 points in the victory.

Cameron Boozer

Duke forward who had 18 points and 9 rebounds in the game.

Thijs De Ridder

Virginia's leading scorer with 16 points, but the Cavaliers struggled as a team offensively.

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What they’re saying

“We must have been locked in defensively to hold them to that low of a scoring output. That was the key to the game for us.”

— Mike Krzyzewski, Duke Head Coach

What’s next

Duke will look to clinch the outright ACC regular-season title in its final two games, while Virginia will try to rebound and secure a high seed in the upcoming conference tournament.

The takeaway

Duke's dominant performance over a fellow ACC contender in Virginia solidifies the Blue Devils' status as the team to beat in the conference and a top national championship contender. The loss is a setback for the Cavaliers, who will need to regroup to maintain their standing in the ACC standings.