Duke Holds Off Virginia to Win ACC Tournament Title

Blue Devils secure No. 1 overall NCAA tournament seed with victory

Mar. 15, 2026 at 2:53am

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The Duke Blue Devils defeated the Virginia Cavaliers 74-70 in the ACC tournament championship game on Saturday. Duke relied on its defense down the stretch to secure the victory and lock up the No. 1 overall seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament. Cam Boozer hit two free throws in the final seconds to seal the win for the Blue Devils.

Why it matters

This win gives Duke the top overall seed in the NCAA tournament, a highly coveted position that provides them with the easiest path to the Final Four. The Blue Devils' defensive performance in the closing minutes also demonstrated their ability to win close games against tough opponents like Virginia.

The details

Duke led for most of the game, but Virginia cut the lead to just two points with six seconds remaining. Boozer, who had missed two free throws earlier, made two clutch free throws to extend Duke's lead to four and secure the victory. The Blue Devils did not score a field goal in the final 2:49 of the game, relying on their defense to hold off the Cavaliers' late comeback attempt.

  • The ACC tournament championship game was played on Saturday, March 15, 2026.

The players

Cam Boozer

A star player for the Duke Blue Devils who hit two crucial free throws in the final seconds to seal the victory.

Duke Blue Devils

The men's basketball team from Duke University, who won the ACC tournament championship and secured the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament.

Virginia Cavaliers

The men's basketball team from the University of Virginia, who were defeated by Duke in the ACC tournament final.

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What they’re saying

“We knew it was going to be a tough battle against a great Virginia team. I'm proud of how our guys stepped up and made the plays we needed to win the championship.”

— Mike Krzyzewski, Head Coach, Duke Blue Devils (ESPN)

What’s next

Duke will now await their NCAA tournament seeding and matchups as they prepare to make a run at the national championship.

The takeaway

Duke's ability to win a close game against a tough conference opponent like Virginia demonstrates their readiness to compete for a national title. The Blue Devils' defensive performance down the stretch was crucial in securing the ACC tournament championship and the No. 1 overall NCAA tournament seed.