Blue Devils Edge Gators in Cameron Thriller

Blue Devils Edge Gators in Cameron Thriller
January 13, 2026

January 13, 2026

What Happened 


DURHAM, N.C. – With 21 seconds remaining, Duke sophomore guard Isaiah Evans drained a clutch go-ahead 3-pointer, and the fourth-ranked Blue Devils relied on their defense to withstand a furious comeback attempt by 15th-ranked Florida, securing a 67-66 nail-biting victory in front of a sold-out, thunderous ACC/SEC Challenge crowd Tuesday night at Cameron Indoor Stadium.


Freshman forward Cameron Boozer, the potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, poured in 29 points, including a huge 3-pointer to break a tie with 2:07 to go. UF junior wing Thomas Haugh led the Gators with 24 points, while sophomore point guard Boogie Fland added 16, with all but three in the second half. Junior forward Alex Condon had 12 points and 10 rebounds. Junior center Rueben Chinyelu had 14 rebounds and played sensational second-half defense to key the Gators' comeback.

Evans’ clutch shot marked the second 3-pointer by the Blue Devils in the final two-plus minutes (the other from Boozer) after they had opened the half by missing their first nine attempts against a determined post-intermission UF defense. The Gators, who had trailed by as many as 15 late in the first half, mounted an impressive rally by holding Duke to just 38% shooting after the break while hitting 47% themselves. That surge allowed them to steadily cut into the deficit until Fland buried a go-ahead 3-pointer with 35 seconds remaining, giving UF its first lead since the 12-minute mark of the opening period.

Following a timeout, Evans found space on the left wing and drilled his decisive 3-pointer to put the Blue Devils back in front by one.

The Gators still had a chance, but Fland was tied up with Duke guard Caleb Foster near the UF sideline and committed a turnover with two seconds left. Foster then missed the front end of a one-and-one, leaving enough time for Florida to call a timeout with 1.5 seconds remaining and set up a desperation full-court attempt. Haugh’s inbound pass was tipped near the baseline, and the clock expired.

UF wing Thomas Haugh shoots over Duke's Patrick Ngongba during Tuesday night's ACC/SEC Challenge.

Turning Point 

UF needed just one more defensive stop to cap its outstanding effort, but Evans—a proven shooter—was left too open in the closing moments with the game on the line.


Staggering Statistic 

At halftime, Haugh had tallied 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting, while the rest of the Gators combined for only 11 points on 4-of-25 from the field. That offensive struggle created a deep hole on the road, yet UF managed to claw back and nearly pull off what would have been a remarkable victory.


Up Next 

The challenge continues. Florida (5-3 or 6-2) will have Wednesday off before turning its focus to next Tuesday’s matchup against fifth-ranked, unbeaten Connecticut in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden. Though officially a neutral-site contest, the atmosphere will feel like a home game for the Huskies, who will be eager for payback after the Gators ended their bid for a third consecutive national championship in last March’s NCAA Tournament second round at Raleigh, North Carolina.

Email senior writer Chris Harry at chrish@gators.ufl.edu. Find his story archives here.