Cameron Boozer shook off a quiet first half to fuel a 26-6 second-half surge, propelling No. 1 Duke past TCU 81-58 and into the Sweet 16. The Blue Devils survived a first-round scare and now await the winner of St. John’s-Kansas.
GREENVILLE, S.C. — The script flipped dramatically for Cameron Boozer on Saturday night. The Duke freshman, fresh off being named a unanimous first-team Associated Press All-American, scored only two points on a missed shot in the first half. But after halftime, he took over, finishing with 19 points and igniting a run that vaulted the top-seeded Blue Devils to an 81-58 victory over ninth-seeded TCU in the NCAA Tournament’s second round.
With the game tied at 44 and just under 14 minutes remaining, Boozer began an 11-0 personal run, scoring twice on perfect high-low passes from returning big man Patrick Ngongba II. That burst was the pinnacle of a 26-6 surge that lasted nearly nine minutes and left TCU’s defense in shambles.
During that decisive stretch, TCU missed 15 of 17 shots while Duke’s offense operated at a blistering clip. The Blue Devils shot 61.5% in the second half and 53.3% for the game, compared to TCU’s 26.3% after halftime and 33.3% overall. TCU’s leading scorer, Micah Robinson, had 18 points, but the Horned Frogs (23-12) couldn’t keep pace with Duke’s (34-2) onslaught.
The physical contest featured several heated moments. TCU’s David Punch suffered a bloody nose after an elbow from Boozer, resulting in a flagrant foul. Later, a double-flagrant foul was called when Ngongba and TCU’s Xavier Edmonds tangled and fell. Horned Frogs coach Jamie Dixon also received a technical foul for protesting a non-call on a block by Maliq Brown.
TCU’s tournament history is one of consistency without breakthrough. This was the Horned Frogs’ fourth appearance in five years under Dixon, yet they remain without a Sweet 16 berth in the modern era (since the field expanded to 64 teams in 1985). Their first-round win over eighth-seeded Ohio State, sealed by Edmonds’ last-second basket, raised hopes, but the second weekend continues to elude them.
TCU’s inability to advance past the second round is a recurring theme for a program that has consistently made the tournament under Dixon but lacks the signature deep run to establish itself among the elite. This loss, following a 23-win season, will fuel questions about whether the Horned Frogs can take the next step, especially with key players like Edmonds and Robinson returning in the future.
Duke’s own tournament journey nearly ended in the first round, where the Blue Devils survived a scare against 16-seed Siena. That game had Duke flirting with only the third 1-over-16 upset in history, a close call AOL.com detailed.
The win propels Duke to the Sweet 16 for the third straight season under head coach Jon Scheyer. They will now head to Washington D.C. to face the winner of Sunday’s St. John’s–Kansas showdown. The fifth-seeded Red Storm, led by Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino, are seeking their first Sweet 16 appearance in years, a drought the New York Post has chronicled. The fourth-seeded Jayhawks, coached by Hall of Famer Bill Self, bring a storied program with national title aspirations.
The impending clash with either St. John’s or Kansas sets up a fascinating contrast. Pitino’s Red Storm rely on grit and half-court execution, while Self’s Jayhawks feature a balanced attack and defensive intensity. Duke’s coaching staff will have to prepare for two vastly different styles in a short turnaround, a challenge that will test Scheyer’s game-planning prowess.
Duke’s ability to weather a quiet start from Boozer and a first-round scare underscores the resilience of Jon Scheyer’s squad. Boozer’s adjustment in the second half—exploiting mismatches and finishing through contact—shows a maturity beyond his years. With Ngongba providing a formidable interior presence and a defense that can lock down opponents (as demonstrated by the 26-6 run), the Blue Devils look equipped for a championship push. Their 34-2 record and poise under pressure mark them as a team peaking at the right time. This marks the third consecutive Sweet 16 appearance for Duke under Scheyer, a testament to the program’s continued excellence after the retirement of Mike Krzyzewski. The Blue Devils will need to sustain this level of play to capture another national title.
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