No. 1 Duke Defeats Virginia 74-70 for Second Straight ACC Tournament Title

Blue Devils extend winning streak to 11 games heading into NCAA Tournament as likely No. 1 overall seed

Mar. 15, 2026 at 3:21am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

No. 1 Duke defeated No. 10 Virginia 74-70 on Saturday night for its second straight Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament championship under coach Jon Scheyer and its third title in four years. Isaiah Evans scored 20 points, Cameron Boozer made two free throws with 3.9 seconds left to seal the game, and Cayden Boozer had 16 points for the Blue Devils, who extended their winning streak to 11 games. Malik Thomas had 18 points and Sam Lewis had 17 for Virginia, but the Cavaliers were unable to overcome Duke's late-game push.

Why it matters

This victory marks Duke's second straight ACC Tournament championship under coach Jon Scheyer and their third title in four years, solidifying their status as one of the top college basketball programs in the country. The win also likely secures Duke a No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament, giving them a clear path to make a deep run and potentially win their first national championship since 2015.

The details

Duke built a 36-29 lead late in the first half, but Virginia fought back to make it a close game throughout. The Cavaliers were unable to take the lead, however, as Cayden Boozer's putback gave Duke a 68-66 advantage with 2:50 remaining. The Blue Devils then hit their free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.

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

The players

Isaiah Evans

A Duke player who scored 20 points in the game.

Cameron Boozer

A Duke player who made two free throws with 3.9 seconds left to seal the game.

Cayden Boozer

A Duke player who had 16 points in the game.

Malik Thomas

A Virginia player who scored 18 points in the game.

Sam Lewis

A Virginia player who scored 17 points in the game.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

What’s next

Both teams will await their seed in the NCAA Tournament. It's expected Duke will be a No. 1 seed and play in Greenville, South Carolina — the closest site to its Durham campus.

The takeaway

This victory solidifies Duke's status as one of the top college basketball programs in the country, as they have now won three ACC Tournament titles in the last four years under coach Jon Scheyer. The Blue Devils' strong performance throughout the season and in the conference tournament likely secures them a No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament, giving them a clear path to make a deep run and potentially win their first national championship since 2015.