One stop. One rebound. One point. That was the difference as Duke edged Florida 67–66 in a pulsating finish that came down to the final possession.
Duke stay unbeaten. Florida walk away furious and convinced opportunity slipped through their fingers.
How the game was won
Duke didn’t dominate — they executed.
The Blue Devils leaned on half-court control and switch-heavy defense down the stretch to protect a razor-thin lead in a game that refused to open up.
With under 20 seconds left and Duke clinging to a one-point advantage, Florida ran its final set looking for daylight. Duke switched cleanly, cut off the first read and forced a rushed attempt that bounced away.
ISAIAH EVANS!!!
— Zion O. (@DukeNBA) December 3, 2025
SHOWTIME SLIM pic.twitter.com/sh5Cqwiky1
Game over.
Star turn: Cam Boozer takes over
Whenever Duke stalled, Cam Boozer answered.
The standout forward poured in 29 points through a mix of driving finishes, tough mid-range shots and defiant rebounds in traffic.
Pat Ngongba delivered support at both ends, stuffing the stat sheet with 11 points, five boards, five assists and five blocks, anchoring Duke inside while Boozer supplied the firepower outside.
Florida’s frustration: execution and a “what if”
Florida were physical, composed and efficient for long stretches.
They won hustle battles, disrupted Duke’s rhythm and trailed for just moments down the stretch. But the decisive play eluded them.
The final look never became clean. Duke’s late pressure worked.
Fans react: controversy explodes online
Social media lit up the moment the horn sounded.
On Reddit, fans dissected officiating, calling attention to late fouls, a technical decision and the timing of stoppages. Duke supporters argued their team endured questionable whistles as well. Florida fans were in no mood to share the blame.
On X, journalists and fan accounts freeze-framed a late block that some believed should have been called goaltending, labeling it a potential four-point swing. Others pushed back just as loudly, citing missed calls in Duke’s direction earlier in the half.
The verdict online: no agreement — just noise.
Numbers that mattered
- 29 — Boozer’s points.
- 5 — Ngongba’s blocks.
- 1 — Final margin.
What it means
Duke: Still unbeaten, but tested. Games like this build tournament muscle.
Florida: Proof they can hang with elite teams. The next step is finishing them.
Final score
Duke 67 — Florida 66
Read more: For full box score and game updates, see the official recap from ESPN’s college basketball desk.
Also on Swikblog: If you follow big college clashes, you may also like our coverage archive on Swikblog Sports.
