Duke Blows Out Syracuse in Dominant Performance

Blue Devils cruise to 101-64 victory behind stifling defense and balanced scoring

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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The Duke Blue Devils put on a defensive masterclass against the Syracuse Orange, limiting them to just 64 points in a blowout 101-64 victory. Duke's offense also clicked, shooting an impressive 90% from the field in the second half to pull away for the lopsided win.

Why it matters

This game showcased Duke's ability to dominate on both ends of the floor, a promising sign as the Blue Devils look to make a deep NCAA Tournament run. The stifling defense and efficient scoring performance will boost Duke's confidence heading into the final stretch of the regular season.

The details

Duke held Syracuse to just 35% shooting from the field and 25% from three-point range, forcing the Orange into numerous turnovers and limiting their scoring opportunities. On the offensive end, the Blue Devils shared the ball well, recording assists on many of their baskets, and got a dominant double-double performance from freshman Cameron Boozer, who finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds in the first half alone.

  • Duke led Syracuse 40-24 at halftime.
  • The Blue Devils opened the second half with an 8-2 run in the first 90 seconds.
  • Duke led by as many as 27 points in the second half.

The players

Jon Scheyer

The head coach of the Duke Blue Devils, who led his team to the dominant victory over Syracuse.

Cameron Boozer

The Duke freshman forward who recorded a double-double in the first half, finishing with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

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What they’re saying

“Duke's defense is special when they locked in.”

— Chris (Twitter)

“Cameron Boozer is a walking double-double now, and he's going to be one in the NBA -- possibly sooner rather than later.”

— Ryan Burke (Twitter)

What’s next

Duke will look to continue its strong play as it heads into the final stretch of the regular season, with key matchups against North Carolina and other ACC contenders on the horizon.

The takeaway

Duke's dominant performance against Syracuse showcased the Blue Devils' ability to excel on both ends of the floor, a recipe for success that could propel them to a deep NCAA Tournament run if they can maintain this level of play.