Duke Defeats NC State in ACC Showdown

Blue Devils clinch regular-season title with road win over Wolfpack

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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The top-ranked Duke Blue Devils defeated the North Carolina State Wolfpack 77-68 on Monday night to clinch the ACC regular-season championship. Duke, who has won six straight games, improved to 28-2 overall and 16-1 in conference play. NC State, who has now lost three in a row, fell to 19-11 on the season and 10-7 in the ACC.

Why it matters

This victory secures the ACC regular-season title for Duke, their 22nd in program history. The Blue Devils have now won 6 of the last 7 meetings against their in-state rival NC State. This game also has major implications for both teams' NCAA Tournament seeding and positioning.

The details

Duke was led by a dominant performance from sophomore forward Cameron Boozer, who scored a game-high 24 points on 9-of-15 shooting. Freshman guard Jaden Schutt added 16 points, while junior guard Tyrese Proctor chipped in 12 points and 7 assists. For NC State, junior guard Darrion Williams scored a team-high 18 points, while senior forward Ernest Ross contributed 16 points and 9 rebounds.

  • The game was played on Monday, March 2, 2026 at 7:00 PM ET.
  • Duke has now won 6 straight games and clinched the ACC regular-season title.

The players

Cameron Boozer

A sophomore forward for Duke who scored a game-high 24 points.

Jaden Schutt

A freshman guard for Duke who scored 16 points.

Tyrese Proctor

A junior guard for Duke who had 12 points and 7 assists.

Darrion Williams

A junior guard for NC State who scored a team-high 18 points.

Ernest Ross

A senior forward for NC State who contributed 16 points and 9 rebounds.

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What they’re saying

“We knew this was going to be a tough road environment, but our guys stepped up and executed our game plan really well.”

— Mike Krzyzewski, Head Coach, Duke University (ESPN)

“We just couldn't get enough stops down the stretch. Duke is a great team and they made the plays when they needed to.”

— Kevin Keatts, Head Coach, NC State University (Raleigh News & Observer)

What’s next

Duke will look to carry this momentum into the ACC Tournament, where they will be the top seed and the favorite to win the championship. NC State will need to regroup quickly as they prepare for the NCAA Tournament, where they will be aiming for a high seed.

The takeaway

This victory solidifies Duke's status as one of the top teams in the country and demonstrates their ability to win on the road in a tough conference environment. For NC State, this loss is a setback, but they have shown the ability to compete with the elite teams in the ACC and will look to use this experience to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.