Clemson Basketball Stuns No. 2 Duke in Thrilling ACC Showdown

2025-03-01

Clemson basketball secured a monumental victory on Saturday night, defeating No. 2 Duke 77-71 in a thrilling ACC showdown at a sold-out Littlejohn Coliseum. The win marked Clemson’s second court-storming celebration of the season and handed Duke its first conference loss, snapping the Blue Devils’ nation-leading 16-game winning streak.

The Tigers (19-5, 11-2 ACC) trailed by as many as nine points in the first half but rallied behind standout performances from transfer center Viktor Lakhin and guard Chase Hunter. Lakhin finished with 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting, while Hunter delivered the go-ahead layup with 38 seconds left and sank four clutch free throws in the final moments to seal the victory. Clemson closed the game on a 7-0 run, outscoring Duke 40-22 in the paint and shooting 58.8% from the field, the highest percentage allowed by Duke this season.

Duke (20-3, 12-1 ACC), led by star freshman Cooper Flagg, struggled to maintain its early momentum despite a strong first-half performance from Tyrese Proctor (16 points) and Kon Knueppel (11 points). Flagg, who had been under the weather, was held in check for much of the game but briefly tied the score late in the second half before Clemson’s defense shut down the Blue Devils in the final minute.

The victory was Clemson’s fifth consecutive win against AP Top 5 teams while unranked, extending a streak unmatched since 1989-90. It also provided a marquee win for the Tigers’ NCAA Tournament resume. Head coach Brad Brownell praised his team’s resilience, particularly after a tough triple-overtime loss to Georgia Tech earlier in the week.

The atmosphere at Littlejohn Coliseum was electric, with students camping out overnight to secure seats. Legendary ESPN broadcaster Dick Vitale, making his return to the booth after battling cancer, added to the game’s significance. For Hunter, a sixth-year senior, the night was unforgettable. “I would say this is No. 1,” he said of the atmosphere.

Clemson’s win solidifies its position as a contender in the ACC and sets the stage for a strong finish to the season.

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