No. 1 Duke Dominates No. 11 UVa in 77-51 Rout

Isaiah Evans and Cam Boozer lead the Blue Devils to a decisive victory over the Cavaliers at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Mar. 3, 2026 at 5:07am

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In a highly anticipated matchup, No. 1 Duke proved too much for No. 11 UVa, winning 77-51 on Saturday afternoon. Isaiah Evans led all scorers with 19 points, while Cam Boozer added 18 for the Blue Devils. UVa struggled mightily, shooting just 29.1% from the field and 20% from 3-point range, with Thijs De Ridder's 16 points the only bright spot for the Cavaliers.

Why it matters

This game highlighted the gap between the top-ranked Blue Devils and the 11th-ranked Cavaliers, as Duke's defensive pressure and offensive firepower proved too much for UVa to handle. The lopsided result raises questions about UVa's ability to compete with the nation's elite teams and will likely impact both teams' NCAA Tournament seeding and prospects.

The details

Duke jumped out to a 41-26 halftime lead, thanks in large part to Evans' 14 first-half points. The Blue Devils extended their advantage in the second half, leading by as many as 27 points before coasting to the 77-51 victory. UVa struggled to find its rhythm, with Malik Thomas and Sam Lewis combining to shoot 0-for-14 from the field.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 28, 2026.

The players

Isaiah Evans

A standout player for No. 1 Duke, scoring a game-high 19 points in the victory.

Cam Boozer

Contributed 18 points and a game-high 9 rebounds for the Blue Devils.

Thijs De Ridder

Led the Cavaliers with 16 points, the only UVa player to score in double figures.

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What they’re saying

“When you're wide open and you don't knock it down, that hurts even more, because they're gonna get you to the end of the clock and a lot of the other ones, and so it just puts that much more pressure on the open shot.”

— Ryan Odom, Head Coach, UVa

What’s next

The loss will likely impact both teams' NCAA Tournament seeding, with Duke solidifying its position as a top contender and UVa facing questions about its ability to compete with the nation's elite.

The takeaway

This game demonstrated the dominance of the top-ranked Blue Devils, who overwhelmed the 11th-ranked Cavaliers with their defensive intensity and offensive firepower. UVa's struggles to find its rhythm and knock down open shots highlighted the gap between the two programs, raising concerns about the Cavaliers' ability to compete with the nation's elite teams.