12/02/25 09:09:00
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12/02 21:04 CST Evans' late 3 helps No. 4 Duke top No. 15 Florida 67-66 in
ACC/SEC Challenge
Evans' late 3 helps No. 4 Duke top No. 15 Florida 67-66 in ACC/SEC Challenge
By AARON BEARD
AP Basketball Writer
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) --- Isaiah Evans hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 19.7 seconds
left, and No. 4 Duke held on to beat No. 15 Florida 67-66 on Tuesday night in
the ACC/SEC Challenge.
The slim sophomore was sitting at 0 for 7 from behind the arc when Florida's
Boogie Fland hit a 3 with 34.6 seconds left for a 66-64 lead, coming on a night
the reigning national champions had trailed by 15. But Evans calmly sunk the
shot that helped Duke (9-0) stay unbeaten in a thrilling finish.
Florida (5-3) had a final desperation possession down one with 1.4 seconds
left, but Maliq Brown tipped Thomas Haugh's heave at the inbounds point to run
the final time off and send Cameron Indoor Stadium into an ear-ringing frenzy.
Star freshman Cameron Boozer scored 29 points for the Blue Devils. Evans had 13
points and a career-high five of Duke's 11 blocks.
Haugh scored 24 points for the Gators, who trailed 36-24 at the break but
absolutely worked Duke on the glass in the second half to climb back in it.
Florida finished with a 44-33 rebounding advantage, including 20-11 on the
offensive glass for the game while finishing with 13 second-chance points after
halftime.
This marked the first time the Blue Devils had hosted a reigning national
champion in nonconference play at Cameron Indoor Stadium since beating UCLA in
February 1996, and this one came with the unusual sight of Duke wearing black
uniforms at home tied to a fan blackout.
Up next
Florida: The Gators face No. 5 UConn next Tuesday in New York's Madison Square
Garden, a matchup of teams that have won the past three NCAA titles.
Duke: The Blue Devils visit No. 7 Michigan State on Saturday.
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