Cameron Boozer’s 35 Points Lead No. 4 Duke to 80-71 Win Over No. 22 Arkansas in Chicago

When Cameron Boozer hit that step-back three with 4:12 left, the Duke Blue Devils didn’t just take the lead—they stole the momentum right out of the Arkansas Razorbacks’ hands. It was the kind of play that turns a tight game into a statement. And on Thanksgiving night, at the United Center in Chicago, Boozer didn’t just make a statement—he wrote a chapter. The freshman dropped 35 points, nine rebounds, and two steals in a 80-71 win that sent shockwaves through the CBS Sports Thanksgiving Day ClassicChicago. Duke, now 5-0, didn’t just survive a gritty Arkansas rally—they outlasted it. And they did it with a mix of raw talent, veteran poise, and a defense that clamped down when it mattered most.

From 57-52 to 80-71: The Turnaround No One Saw Coming

Arkansas had every right to believe they were in control. With 12:15 left in the second half, the Razorbacks led 57-52 after converting five of seven shots. Darius Acuff Jr. was electric, pouring in 21 points and dishing five assists. But then—nothing. For four full minutes, Arkansas missed every shot. No layups. No threes. Not even a free throw. Duke’s defense, led by Boozer’s relentless rotations and Caleb Foster’s savvy steals, forced seven turnovers in that span. The Razorbacks went cold. And Duke? They went hot.

Boozer, who had 15 points at halftime, took over. He hit a tough fadeaway, then drew a foul on a drive and completed the three-point play to tie it at 64. That’s when Patrick Ngongba II—the quiet, relentless big man—came alive. His put-back off a missed Foster jumper gave Duke a 66-64 lead with 5:14 left. Arkansas called timeout. The energy shifted. You could feel it in the stands. The United Center, packed with blue and white, erupted. The Razorbacks never got closer than two again.

The Unsung Heroes: Foster, Ngongba, and the Defense

While Boozer got the headlines, the win was built on the foundation of two other players. Caleb Foster didn’t just score 15 points—he orchestrated. His eight assists were a career high, six of them coming in the first half when Duke needed structure. He didn’t force anything. He moved the ball. He read the defense. And when Arkansas collapsed on Boozer, Foster was there to punish them with a smooth mid-range jumper at the final media timeout, extending Duke’s lead to 68-66.

Then there’s Ngongba. He didn’t start the game with a bang—he started with a rebound. His first basket? An offensive put-back off his own miss. He finished with 12 points and six boards, but his impact went beyond the box score. He battled Arkansas’ front line all night, drawing charges, blocking shots, and setting screens that freed up Boozer for open looks. “He’s the glue,” said Duke head coach Jon Scheyer in his postgame presser. “He doesn’t need the spotlight. He just needs the ball in the right spot.”

And the defense? It was the difference. Arkansas entered the game shooting 48% from the field. They finished at 39%. Three starters—DJ Wagner, Pringle, and Knox—combined for just eight points. Wagner, once the #1 recruit in the country, managed only three points on 1-of-8 shooting. It wasn’t just that Duke shut them down—it was that they made them question everything.

What This Win Means for Duke—and the ACC

This wasn’t just a non-conference win. It was a declaration. Duke, ranked fourth nationally, had been questioned after a shaky opener against a mid-major. Critics wondered if they could handle physical teams. If Boozer could handle the pressure. If their guard play was deep enough. This game answered all of it. They faced a top-25 SEC team on a neutral floor, in a hostile environment, with a national audience watching—and they didn’t flinch.

The ACC is already shaping up to be a war zone this season. Virginia Tech, North Carolina, and Florida State are all firing on all cylinders. But Duke? They’ve got a freshman who can take over a game like a veteran. They’ve got a point guard who makes everyone better. And they’ve got a defense that gets better as the clock ticks down.

Compare this to last year’s early-season losses—when Duke would panic under pressure, when their offense would stall, when their bench would disappear. This year? Different. Tighter. More mature. They’re not just talented. They’re tough.

Arkansas’ Struggles: A Team in Transition

Arkansas, meanwhile, looks like a team still finding its identity. Acuff is a star, no doubt. But when Wagner, their former #1 recruit, goes 1-of-8 from the field, something’s off. Their offense is too reliant on isolation plays. Their ball movement? Inconsistent. And when the shots stopped falling, they didn’t have a Plan B.

Coach John Calipari’s system demands pace and space. But Arkansas struggled to create either. They were outrebounded 38-32. They turned it over 16 times. And their bench scored just 12 points. That’s not enough against a team like Duke. The Razorbacks aren’t doomed—they’re just exposed. And now, the rest of the SEC will see it too.

What’s Next?

Duke returns home to Cameron Indoor Stadium for a tough matchup against Texas Tech on December 3. They’ll need to clean up their free throw shooting (15-of-22 tonight) and limit second-chance points. But if Boozer keeps playing like this—and Foster keeps distributing like a seasoned floor general—they’ll be a serious Final Four contender.

Arkansas heads to the Bahamas for the Battle 4 Atlantis, where they’ll face Villanova and Kansas. They need to find chemistry fast. Or risk falling out of the top 25 before Christmas.

Behind the Numbers

• Duke scored 27 of the final 38 points to seal the win
• Boozer’s 35 points are the most by a Duke freshman since Zion Williamson’s 36 in 2018
• Foster’s eight assists are the most by a Duke guard since Tre Jones in 2020
• Arkansas went 0-for-7 from the field over a four-minute stretch in the second half
• Only three Razorback starters scored—combined total: 8 points