ACC Basketball Recap: Duke 67, Clemson 54 — Game recap (Feb. 14, 2026)

The takeaway: No. 4 Duke strengthened its hold on the ACC regular-season lead with a well-rounded 67–54 victory over No. 20 Clemson on Saturday afternoon. Behind a balanced attack and stout defense, the Blue Devils controlled the tempo for much of the game, weathered a competitive first half and pulled away early in the second half to snap the Tigers’ hopes of overtaking them atop the league standings. (Duke University)

Score & line

• Final: Duke 67, Clemson 54 (Halftime: Duke 31, Clemson 26). (Duke University)
• Records after the game: Duke moved to 23–2 (12–1 ACC) while Clemson fell to 20–6 (10–3 ACC). (Duke University)

Key stats

• Duke: Shot 43% from the field, hit 10 three-pointers (their first double-figure 3PT night since early January), and limited Clemson’s scoring opportunities with strong perimeter defense. Duke also secured 37 rebounds and dished out 15 assists on the day. (ESPN.com)
• Clemson: Finished with 35.1% shooting, including a chilly 6-of-24 from three, and posted a season-low scoring output as the Tigers struggled to generate consistent offense. (THE BIG 1050)

Top performers:

• Cameron Boozer (Duke): 18 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals — led Duke in scoring and contributed across the stat sheet. (Duke University)
• Isaiah Evans (Duke): 17 points, 4 three-pointers, 3 rebounds, 2 steals — his perimeter shooting kept Duke ahead and helped fuel the second-half surge. (Duke University)
• Cayden Boozer (Duke): 12 points — provided scoring punch off the bench and kept the attack balanced. (Duke University)
• Carter Welling (Clemson): 12 points — led the Tigers in scoring but couldn’t overcome Duke’s defense. (THE BIG 1050)
• RJ Godfrey (Clemson): 10 points — one of the few Tiger players to find consistent offense. (THE BIG 1050)

Game flow — the moments that mattered

• Competitive first half: Duke built a narrow lead in the opening minutes, taking advantage of interior post play and perimeter shots. Clemson stayed within range by attacking the paint and hitting mid-range shots, trailing just 31–26 at the break despite shooting poorly from deep. (Duke University)
• Second-half surge: Duke opened the second half with an 11–2 run, highlighted by back-to-back threes from Evans and strong transition play. That sequence extended the lead and forced Clemson into a more uncomfortable offensive rhythm. (THE BIG 1050)
• Defense clamps down: Clemson’s 3-point struggles continued in the second half, with the Tigers shooting just 3-for-16 from deep in the first nine minutes of the period. Duke’s length and ball pressure limited clean looks, and the lead soon ballooned to 52–33. (THE BIG 1050)
• Closing the door: Despite a few late Clemson runs, Duke maintained control throughout the final stretch. Strong defense and timely baskets kept the Tigers at arm’s length, and clutch free-throw shooting down the stretch sealed the victory. (Duke University)

Player & coaching notes

• Boozer brothers anchor Duke: Cameron Boozer led all scorers and dominated the paint, while Cayden Boozer’s offensive contributions provided floor spacing and balanced the attack. Their combined efforts were critical in both scoring and rebounding. (Duke University)
• Evans’ perimeter impact: Isaiah Evans continued his role as one of Duke’s most reliable shooters, connecting on four three-pointers and pushing the tempo with aggressive drives and confident shot selection. (Duke University)
• Clemson’s offensive woes: Clemson’s inability to convert on open looks — particularly from behind the arc — and its struggles to finish at the rim were major factors in the loss. The Tigers also found it difficult to sustain offensive runs, as Duke’s defense consistently responded. (THE BIG 1050)
• Coaching edge: Duke coach Jon Scheyer drew up effective adjustments at halftime, emphasizing perimeter defense and transition scoring, which paid dividends in the second half. The win also extended Duke’s remarkable home success under Scheyer and reinforced its status as an ACC powerhouse. (Duke University)

Why Duke won

1. Second-half execution: Duke’s strong start to the second half — especially the early 11-2 run — shifted the momentum decisively. (THE BIG 1050)
2. Perimeter production: Hitting 10 threes allowed Duke to spread the floor and create driving lanes, keeping Clemson’s defense off balance. (Duke University)
3. Defense & contesting shots: Holding Clemson to 35% shooting and limiting their efficiency from long range prevented any sustained Tiger comeback. (THE BIG 1050)

Quick look ahead

Duke will remain at Cameron Indoor Stadium to host Syracuse on Monday, looking to build on its ACC dominance and continue its push toward a high NCAA Tournament seed. Clemson, meanwhile, heads to Wake Forest seeking a bounce-back performance to stay competitive in the ACC race. (THE BIG 1050)