The fourth-ranked Duke Blue Devils used a 21-5 spurt to start the second half en route a 67-54 win over the No. 18 Clemson Tigers in ACC basketball play at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Saturday.
Cameron Boozer led Duke (23-2 overall, 12-1 conference) with 18 points, and Isaiah Evans added 17 in the Blue Devils' win. Jake Wahlin led Clemson (20-6, 10-3) in scoring with 12 points, and RJ Godfrey was the only other Tigers player to reach double figures with 10 points.
Clemson has now lost back-to-back games for the first time in ACC play this season, and Saturday's loss snapped a 14-game conference road winning streak that dated back to last season.
Duke left no doubt the ACC still runs through Durham and Cameron Indoor.
Clemson had no answers for the freshman Boozer, the ACC's leading scorer who analysts project as a consensus high-round pick in this year's NBA Draft. His second 3-pointer of the second half put the Blue Devils ahead by 16 points. Duke would go on to lead by as many as 22.
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After the game, Duke coach Jon Scheyer met with reporters to discuss his team's 13-point win over Clemson. Here's what the fourth-year Blue Devils coach had to say about the Tigers.
Jon Scheyer praises Clemson, Brad Brownell after Duke basketball win
"Ton of respect. Coach Brownell for me is one of the best coaches in the game, period. Clemson's program and who they are as a team this year, we knew it was going to be a physically tough game. Their defense is terrific.
"I was really proud of our guys. I thought our defense was top notch today. I thought it made it really difficult on (Clemson). To get a lead in the second half (by) double digits and sustain it the whole way was great. I thought Dame Sarr's defense at the point of attack was a difference maker. I thought Cayden (Boozer) had some incredible moments today with just giving us poise on offense. I thought his defense was terrific, as well. And I thought our post defense on those guys was key. Grateful for this win."
Clemson slowed pace of game vs Duke: Jon Scheyer explains how Blue Devils won
"I thought our guys have had tremendous growth this season of not letting (opposing teams) offense impact our defense. Also, not letting the score impact what we're doing. You guys have heard me say it before. We talk about inflection points all the time. I thought there were a couple of them today in the second half where we just had great discipline at the end of clocks, which you need to have.
"I thought the rebounding battle was indicative of how we were aware of what wins this game, and that's winning the rebounding battle."
Duke out-rebounded Clemson, 37-32.
Cooper Flagg, other former Duke basketball stars had 'big impact' in win over Clemson
Responding to a reporter's question on the effect of having former Duke players like Flagg, Tyrese Proctor and Khaman Maluach in attendance for Saturday's game during NBA All-Star Weekend, Scheyer said:
"It's one of a kind, and I think it's says a lot about Tyrese, Khaman and Coop that they could have gone anywhere they wanted during the All-Star break. The fact they chose to come back here, I think says -- you talk about the brotherhood, that's what it's about. I love the fact they were here. I love those guys. We've been through a lot together, and I'm really proud of them with what they're doing. But to have them in the building, I just thought the energy was great and it had a big impact on today's game."
Jon Scheyer explains how Duke overcame Clemson's physicality
Clemson was within five points at halftime and trailed 41-36. Duke began the second half with a 21-5 run.
"I thought actually we were not in control by any means, but I thought we were playing well. I thought (Clemson's) physicality knocked us back with some softer finishes. A couple of wasted possessions maybe with a couple of turnovers I'd like to have back, but I thought our defense was right there.
"(Clemson) scored 26 points. They scored six of them (because) we fouled two shooters. We left our feet on another one. Dame is going to dunk the ball next time, and he missed it and they hit a 3. So, that's nine of the (26) points. Besides that, I thought our defense made them take some tough shots. Just had to keep going. That was exactly the type of game I thought it would be."
Duke's Jon Scheyer says Blue Devils always maintain respect for Clemson basketball, avoid 'complacency'
"I don't think this team is about complacency. The fact that we've gone up double digits in most of these guys, you don't do that by being complacent. That's not what they do at all. I think our guys, good teams make runs and they put pressure on you. I think that's a matter of what naturally happens. For us, it's learning what special teams do and just how to sustain those leads.
"I've coached three games against Clemson as a head coach. Every game has gone down to the wire. I think it also shows the respect we have for them. We understood that that middle of the second half. how important that time was."
Jon Scheyer explains Duke basketball approach to shooting 3-pointers against Clemson
Duke attempted 29 3-pointers and sank 10 from beyond the arc in Saturday's win over the Tigers.
Scheyer praised Clemson's defense and said:
"I'm not sure that's who we're ever going to be. I think some of them were good shots, but we have to be an inside-out team. I thought that's a credit to (Clemson's) defense. It's not like we were trying to do that, but they make it hard on you. They make it hard to get in the paint and get the shots you want. I thought in the second half, we did a better job of just settling in and playing our strengths and trying to dictate what we were trying to do on offense.
"So, I give our guys a ton of credit to respond to (Clemson's) defense during the game, and I thought there was much better balance in the second half."
Duke coach Jon Scheyer on importance of landing 'kill shot' early in second half start vs Clemson
"I think the thing we've learned from some of these games we've been in is, you know they're a proud team. They're going to respond, and the start of the second half is so important. It's great when you can score right away, which we did. But I thought our defense is what carried the day, and against Clemson, that's your only chance of getting on a run. Your defense has to be there, and then we were fortunate to play inside out, which I thought was something we talked about at halftime. We settled a little bit too much in that first half and it's great for us to get that kill shot. It's great for us to do that."
Watch Scheyer's full postgame press conference below.
Clemson basketball schedule: When do the Tigers play next?
Clemson will returns to the hardwood Wednesday in Winston-Salem against unranked Wake Forest. Tipoff for Clemson-Wake Forest is 7 p.m. ET from LJVM Coliseum. The game will be televised on ACC Network.
Here's a look at the Tigers' full 2025-26 men's basketball schedule.
All start times Eastern.
- Nov. 3: vs. New Hampshire (W, 88-38)
- Nov. 7: vs. Gardner-Webb (W, 97-59)
- Nov. 11: vs. Morehead State (W, 83-56)
- Nov. 15: at Georgetown (L, 79-74)
- Nov. 17: vs. North Alabama (W, 81-61)
- Nov. 21: vs. West Virginia (W, 70-67)
- Nov. 23: vs. Georgia (W, 97-94, OT)
- Nov. 28: vs. Alabama A&M (W, 92-56)
- Dec. 3: at Alabama (L, 90-84)
- Dec. 9 vs. BYU (L, 67-64)
- Dec. 13: vs. Mercer (W, 70-63)
- Dec. 16: vs. South Carolina (W, 68-61)
- Dec. 21: vs. Cincinnati (W, 68-65)
- Dec. 31: at Syracuse (W, 64-61)
- Jan. 3: at Pittsburgh (W, 73-68)
- Jan. 7: vs. SMU (W, 74-70)
- Jan. 10: at Notre Dame (W, 76-61)
- Jan. 13: vs. Boston College (W, 74-50)
- Jan. 17: vs. Miami (W, 69-59)
- Jan. 20: vs. NC State (L, 80-76, OT)
- Jan. 24: at Georgia Tech (W, 77-63)
- Jan. 31: vs. Pittsburgh (W, 63-52)
- Feb. 4: at Stanford (W, 66-64)
- Feb. 7: at California (W, 77-55)
- Feb. 11: vs. Virginia Tech (L, 76-66)
- Feb. 14: at Duke (L, 67-54)
- Feb. 18: at Wake Forest, 7 p.m., ACC Network
- Feb. 21: Florida State, Noon, The CW
- Feb. 28: vs. Louisville, ESPN or ESPN2
- March 3: at North Carolina, 7 p.m., ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU
- March 7: vs. Georgia Tech, Noon, ACC Network
Overall: 20-6.
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This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Duke basketball coach Jon Scheyer speaks out about Clemson after win