Duke defeats Louisville 73-84
Duke Outlasts Louisville in Thrilling Conference Showdown at KFC Yum! Center
In a back-and-forth affair, the visiting Duke Blue Devils (84) emerged victorious over their hosts, the Louisville Cardinals (73), in a thrilling conference matchup on Wednesday night at the KFC Yum! Center.
Trailing 47-38 at halftime, Duke staged an impressive comeback in the second half, outscoring Louisville by 9 points. The Blue Devils' determination paid off, as they eventually took the lead and never looked back.
The game was marked by a 12-point swing between the two teams, with Louisville initially holding a 47-38 advantage at intermission. However, Duke's Cameron Boozer led the charge in the second half, pouring in 19 points to spearhead his team's resurgence.
Boozer's performance was nothing short of outstanding, as he shot 83.3% from the field and drained three of four three-point attempts. The senior forward also chipped in with eight rebounds and four assists, showcasing his all-around prowess.
Louisville's Ryan Conwell played a key role for the Cardinals, scoring 24 points on 4-11 shooting from beyond the arc. Conwell also contributed seven rebounds and one assist to help his team stay competitive throughout the contest.
Despite the loss, Louisville still managed to put up impressive numbers across the board. The Cardinals shot 40% from the field, including a respectable 32.0% mark from three-point range.
In the end, Duke's superior shooting efficiency and Boozer's outstanding performance proved too much for Louisville to overcome. As the Blue Devils celebrated their hard-fought win, they demonstrated that they are truly among the top teams in the conference.
Box Score Breakdown
Louisville (73)
* Field Goals: 26/65 (40.0%)
* 2-Point FG: 14/27 (51.9%)
* 3-Point FG: 12/38 (32.0%)
* Free Throws: 9/12 (75.0%)
* Rebounds: 37
* Assists: 13
* Turnovers: 14
Duke (84)
* Field Goals: 29/57 (51.0%)
* 2-Point FG: 22/34 (64.7%)
* 3-Point FG: 7/23 (30.0%)
* Free Throws: 19/28 (68.0%)
* Rebounds: 39
* Assists: 9
* Turnovers: 12
The game will be remembered as a thrilling back-and-forth affair, with Duke ultimately emerging victorious in a conference matchup that showcased the Blue Devils' resilience and determination.