Duke Defeats Clemson in ACC Tournament Rematch

Blue Devils overcome injuries to roll past Tigers in quarterfinal matchup

Mar. 13, 2026 at 10:40pm

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The top-ranked Duke Blue Devils defeated the Clemson Tigers 75-60 in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament on Friday. Despite missing key players due to injury, Duke's star freshman Cameron Boozer led the way with 24 points and 12 rebounds as the Blue Devils avenged their regular season loss to the Tigers.

Why it matters

This victory keeps Duke's hopes alive for a high seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament, while Clemson's loss ends their chances of an at-large bid and forces them to rely on an automatic bid from the conference tournament.

The details

Duke jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, using their stifling defense to limit Clemson's scoring opportunities. The Blue Devils outrebounded the Tigers 39-29 and held them to just 37% shooting from the field. In addition to Boozer's big game, Isaiah Evans added 17 points for Duke.

  • The game was played on Friday, March 13, 2026 in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament.
  • Duke and Clemson had previously met during the regular season, with Duke winning 67-54 on February 14, 2026.

The players

Cameron Boozer

Duke's star freshman forward, who led the team with 24 points and 12 rebounds in the win.

Isaiah Evans

Duke sophomore guard who scored 17 points to support Boozer.

Carter Welling

Clemson's leading scorer who suffered a season-ending torn ACL in the previous tournament game.

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What they’re saying

“We knew Clemson would come out and play tough defense, but our guys responded well and made the plays we needed to win this one.”

— Jon Scheyer, Duke Head Coach (draftkings.com)

What’s next

Duke will advance to the ACC Tournament semifinals, where they will face the winner of the North Carolina-Miami quarterfinal matchup. Clemson's season is likely over barring an automatic bid from the conference tournament.

The takeaway

Despite key injuries, Duke's superior talent and defensive intensity proved too much for Clemson to overcome in this ACC Tournament rematch. The Blue Devils remain on track for a high NCAA Tournament seed, while the Tigers' hopes for an at-large bid have likely been dashed.