Duke’s Cameron Boozer Leads Blue Devils to Victory Over Michigan, Claiming No. 1 Ranking

WASHINGTON – No. 3 Duke Blue Devils defeated the top-ranked Michigan Wolverines 68-63 on Saturday night in Washington, D.C., propelled by a strong performance from freshman Cameron Boozer. The victory marks Duke’s 11th all-time win against an AP No. 1 team and elevates them to the No. 1 ranking in the AP Top 25 poll [ESPN].

Boozer’s Standout Performance

Cameron Boozer scored 18 points in the game, adding 10 rebounds and seven assists [The New York Times]. His performance was pivotal in securing the win against a Michigan team that had been on an 11-game winning streak. His father, former Duke and NBA star Carlos Boozer, was in attendance to witness the victory [ESPN].

Game Recap

The game was a closely contested affair, described as a possible Final Four preview [ESPN]. Duke took a 64-58 lead after Boozer hit a 3-pointer with 1:55 remaining. Isaiah Evans contributed 14 points for the Blue Devils, who now hold a 25-2 record. Yaxel Lendeborg led Michigan with 21 points, but the Wolverines (25-2) suffered their first loss since January 10th [ESPN].

Significance of the Upset

This win is particularly notable as it occurred on the same day that the No. 2 ranked team, Houston, also lost, marking the first time since February 8, 2025, that both the No. 1, and No. 2 teams in the AP poll lost on the same day [ESPN]. Duke coach Jon Scheyer emphasized the high level of competition, stating the game “felt like a March or April game” [ESPN].

Duke’s Continued Success Against Michigan

With this victory, Duke improved to 23-8 against Michigan overall and remains undefeated (7-0) on neutral courts in their series, which includes the 1992 national title game. Michigan hasn’t defeated Duke since December 6, 2009 [ESPN].