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Cameron Boozer helps No. 1 Duke stay red-hot
Duke Blue Devils forward Cameron Boozer (12) reacts with guard Isaiah Evans (3) and guard Caleb Foster (1) after being fouled during the first half against the NC State Wolfpack at Lenovo Center. Zachary Taft-Imagn Images

Big Cameron Boozer game vs. NC State helps No. 1 Duke stay red-hot

The Duke Blue Devils stayed red-hot on Monday thanks to another big game from star freshman Cameron Boozer.

The Wooden Award favorite added to a historic season with 26 points, nine rebounds and three assists in the 93-64 drubbing of the NC State Wolfpack (19-11, 10-7 in ACC), giving Associated Press No. 1 Duke (28-2, 15-1 in ACC) its seventh consecutive win leading into the regular-season finale at home against the rival No. 17 North Carolina Tar Heels (23-6, 11-5 in ACC) on Saturday.

According to the ESPN broadcast, it was Boozer's 24th consecutive game with at least 15 points and five rebounds, tied for the longest Division I streak over the past 15 seasons with Zach Edey (2023-24). Color commentator Cory Alexander noted it also gave the likely 2026 NBA lottery pick his 30th game with at least 14 points, five rebounds and two assists, making him the only player in men's or women's college basketball since 2000 to reach those numbers that often.

Duke, Cameron Boozer continue to steamroll through competition with blowout win over NC State

Boozer's unreal season has made him the clear favorite for the year's individual honors, including the Wooden and Naismith Awards. Following Monday's game, he's averaging 22.6 points, 10 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game while shooting 58.3 percent.

He's the best player on the NCAA's best team, a great recipe for Boozer to collect some hardware and Duke to win its first national championship in 11 years.

Few teams, if any, are playing as well as the Blue Devils since their most recent loss on a last-second field goal at North Carolina. Six of their last seven wins have come by double digits, including four by at least 26 points, with an average margin of victory of 24.3 points during the span.

With the regular season winding down, Duke remains in a class of one, and Boozer is playing strong enough to allow the program to complete the high-wire act by cutting down the nets in Indianapolis in April.

Eric Smithling

Eric Smithling is a writer based in New Orleans, LA, whose byline also appears on Athlon Sports. He has been with Yardbarker since September 2022, primarily covering the NFL and college football, but also the NBA, WNBA, men’s and women’s college basketball, NHL, tennis and golf. He holds a film studies degree from the University of New Orleans

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