When Cameron Boozer dropped 35 points on Arkansas Razorbacks in front of a roaring Chicago crowd, it wasn’t just a stat line—it was a statement. On Thursday, November 27, 2025, at the Chicago venue hosting the Players Era Tournament, the Duke Blue Devils held off a furious Arkansas rally to win 80-71, improving to 8-0 on the season. The win wasn’t pretty, but it was brutal—and exactly what new head coach Jon Scheyer’s program needed to prove it’s grown up.
Boozer Carries the Load—And Then Some
Cameron Boozer didn’t just play well. He dominated. The 6’8” forward attacked the rim with relentless aggression, finished through contact, and even stretched the floor with a rare mid-range jumper. His 35 points came on 13-of-21 shooting, and he added nine rebounds, three steals, and two blocks. He scored 16 of Duke’s 27 points during a critical 9:40 stretch in the second half that turned a 57-52 deficit into a 70-59 lead. "He was playing like he had something to prove," said one longtime Duke observer. "Not just against Arkansas—but against the narrative that this team can’t close." Meanwhile, senior guard Caleb Foster quietly engineered the win with 15 points, five rebounds, and eight assists. But his real impact came on defense. With Arkansas star Darius Acuff Jr. heating up in the second half, Foster locked in, holding him to just two points over the final 10 minutes. "Foster took Acuff out of the game," noted the Duke Basketball Report forum. "That’s the kind of play that doesn’t show up on the box score but wins games."Arsenal of Comebacks—And One Final Collapse
Arkansas, led by legendary coach John Calipari, refused to go quietly. After trailing by 13 at halftime, the Razorbacks stormed back with an 8-0 run to open the second half. They took their first lead since the first half at 50-47, then pushed it to five at 57-52. With 2:58 left, Acuff buried a three-pointer to make it 70-69. The arena erupted. The comeback was real. But Duke didn’t panic. Foster answered with a cold-blooded three of his own at 2:31. Then Boozer did what great players do: he seized control. A thunderous dunk, followed by two clutch free throws, pushed the lead to 77-69 with 1:06 left. Arkansas never scored again. Their final 2:58 featured zero field goals, four turnovers, and a desperate, ineffective half-court offense. "We had chances," Calipari said in his postgame interview. "We just didn’t make the plays when it mattered. And when you’re playing a team like Duke, you can’t give them extra possessions. They made us pay."
Rebounding and Resilience
Duke won the battle on the glass 37-29—a critical margin, especially after entering the game on a five-game streak of double-digit rebounding advantages. This time, it was tighter. But the Blue Devils’ depth shone through. Patrick Ngongba II added 9 points off the bench during the pivotal stretch, while freshman center Nik and guard Dame (last names unconfirmed) sparked debate among fans over the starting lineup. "We’ve been too sloppy in the past," said Scheyer after the game. "Tonight, we didn’t panic. We didn’t lose our composure. That’s the difference between last year’s team and this one."What This Means for the Season
This win isn’t just about improving to 8-0. It’s about identity. Over the past three seasons, Scheyer’s Duke teams have been known for flashy offense but brittle finishes—especially against Top 25 opponents. They lost close games to Kansas, Auburn, and even unranked teams in crunch time. This one? They didn’t fold. They didn’t flinch. "Who cares about the sloppiness?" wrote a user on the Duke Basketball Report forum. "This was the EXACT type of game that young Jon Scheyer teams the past three years have lost. This crew buckled down and got it done. They are a TOUGH bunch." Now, Duke heads into a critical stretch. They host No. 10 Florida on December 2, followed by a potential showdown with No. 1 Kentucky in the ACC/SEC Challenge. Arkansas, meanwhile, will host No. 6 Louisville on December 3, needing to rebound from a performance that exposed their lack of late-game poise.
Behind the Scenes: A Holiday Miracle
The game tipped off just after 6:30 p.m. Central Time on Thanksgiving night. Fans were still digesting turkey when Boozer started his assault. One fan tweeted: "My Thanksgiving dinner was sitting somewhere north of my stomach through most of the second half. Thank you Cameron Boozer. Now for the Tums." It was the kind of game that makes college basketball worth watching—raw, emotional, unpredictable. And for Duke, it was the moment they stopped being a team with potential—and started being a team with purpose.Frequently Asked Questions
How did Cameron Boozer’s performance compare to past Duke stars?
Boozer’s 35-point game is the highest scoring output by a Duke player this season and ranks among the top 10 single-game performances by a Blue Devil under Jon Scheyer. It’s the most points by a Duke forward since Zion Williamson’s 36-point game against North Carolina in 2019. His efficiency—13-of-21 shooting—also mirrors the clutch scoring of former Duke stars like J.J. Redick and Shane Battier in high-pressure games.
Why was Caleb Foster’s defense more important than his stats?
Foster’s 15 points and eight assists were strong, but his assignment on Darius Acuff Jr.—a 6’3” dynamic scorer who had averaged 18.4 points per game before this match—was critical. Acuff scored 17 points in the first half but was held to just two in the final 10 minutes, largely due to Foster’s physical, intelligent defense. He forced Acuff into three contested jumpers and two travel calls, neutralizing Arkansas’s primary offensive threat when it mattered most.
What does this win mean for Duke’s NCAA Tournament chances?
With an 8-0 record and a win over a Top 25 team on a neutral court, Duke has solidified its position as a top-4 seed candidate. The victory over Arkansas adds to their resume alongside wins over Kansas and Indiana State. Their upcoming game against No. 10 Florida will be a major litmus test—if they win, they’re likely in the conversation for a No. 1 seed. Losses to mid-majors earlier in the season hurt, but this win shows they can compete with elite teams.
Why did Arkansas struggle in the final minutes?
Arkansas lacked a go-to scorer in crunch time. While Acuff was shut down, Meleek Thomas and sophomore guard Jalen Tate combined for just 12 points on 4-of-17 shooting in the second half. Their offense relied too heavily on isolation plays, and Duke’s zone defense forced them into low-percentage jumpers. They also committed three turnovers in the final 90 seconds, including a critical one on a bad pass to Thomas under the basket. Experience showed—Duke had been in these moments before; Arkansas hadn’t.
Is this a turning point for Jon Scheyer’s program?
Absolutely. Scheyer’s first two seasons were marked by offensive brilliance but defensive lapses and late-game collapses. This win—over a Calipari team, in a hostile environment, with the game on the line—is the clearest sign yet that his roster has matured. The players are buying in. They’re playing for each other, not just stats. If they can maintain this poise against Florida and Kentucky, Scheyer’s Duke will be a legitimate national title contender.
What’s next for Arkansas after this loss?
Arkansas now faces a must-win game against No. 6 Louisville on December 3. A loss would drop them to 4-4 and jeopardize their NCAA Tournament hopes. Calipari needs his backcourt—especially Acuff and Tate—to find consistency. The Razorbacks also need to improve their rebounding; they were outrebounded by eight, and their bench scored just 18 points. Without better interior play and more balanced scoring, they’ll struggle against elite competition.