Cameron Boozer's 35 points lift No. 4 Duke past No. 22 Arkansas 80-71

When Cameron Boozer drained a step-back three with 1:06 left, the Duke Blue Devils weren’t just winning—they were announcing themselves as a national title contender. The freshman forward, a 6-foot-8 phenom from Miami, finished with 35 points and nine rebounds to lead Duke to an 80-71 comeback victory over the Arkansas Razorbacks on Thursday night, November 27, 2025, at the United Center in Chicago. It was the first time in program history a Duke freshman had scored 35+ points in two separate games—and Boozer did it in just his eighth collegiate outing.

From Commanding Lead to Heart-Stopping Collapse

Duke looked in complete control early. Boozer’s combination of power and perimeter touch sparked a 10-0 run in the first half, capped by a thunderous dunk from Dame Sarr that pushed the Blue Devils ahead 32-22 with 5:11 left in the half. He had 15 points by halftime on 6-of-9 shooting. But Arkansas, coached by John Calipari, refused to fold. The Razorbacks closed the half on a 7-0 surge, cutting Duke’s lead to just six. Then, in the second half, they turned it up. A 10-3 run, fueled by freshman guard Meleek Thomas’s deep three, gave Arkansas a 60-53 lead with 10:09 remaining. The crowd in Chicago—mostly pro-Arkansas, given the proximity to the Midwest—was roaring.

The Comeback That Defined a Freshman

That’s when Boozer took over. Not with flash. Not with theatrics. Just relentless, efficient basketball. Patrick Ngongba II tied the game at 64 with a putback, then Boozer answered a Arkansas basket with a baseline drive and finish. With 2:58 left, Arkansas pulled within one at 70-69. The moment demanded a hero. Enter Caleb Foster. The Duke guard didn’t hesitate. He caught the inbound, stepped back behind the arc, and buried a dagger three. The arena went silent. Duke led 73-69. Boozer then sealed it with a poster dunk and two free throws, finishing the game on a 12-point tear over the final 3:30.

A Freshman Record That Echoes Through History

Boozer’s 35 points weren’t just impressive—they were historic. He became the first Duke freshman ever to reach 35 points in a game twice. The last Duke player to do it in a single season? Zion Williamson, in 2019. But Boozer’s efficiency is even more striking: 13-of-21 from the field, 5-of-8 from three, 4-of-4 from the line. He didn’t just score—he controlled the tempo. ESPN’s recap nailed it: "He began to assert himself in the final minutes of the first half and delivered down the stretch."

Arkansas’s Near Miss and the Road Ahead

For Arkansas, it was a game of missed opportunities. Darius Acuff Jr., the 6-foot-3 guard and son of former NBA player Darius Acuff Sr., led the Razorbacks with 21 points and showed poise beyond his years. Trevon Brazile’s double-double (11 points, 11 rebounds) was a bright spot. But when the game was on the line, the Razorbacks couldn’t make the stop. They shot just 3-of-12 from three in the final 10 minutes. Coach Calipari, in his second season, knows this team has talent—but they need composure. Their next test? Hosting No. 6 Louisville Cardinals on December 3 at Bud Walton Arena.

Duke’s Unblemished Start and What It Means

Duke’s win improved them to 8-0—their best start since the 2017-18 team opened 11-0. Head coach Jon Scheyer, in his third year, has built a team that doesn’t panic. They’ve won close games, they’ve won blowouts, and now they’ve won when trailing by seven with 10 minutes left. The Blue Devils’ next challenge? A marquee home game against No. 10 Florida Gators on December 2 at Cameron Indoor Stadium. That game could be a top-10 showdown with national title implications.

Behind the Numbers: Why This Game Matters

- 35 points by Boozer: Most by a Duke freshman since Zion Williamson’s 36 in 2019. - 8-0 record: Duke’s best start since 2017-18. - 27-11 scoring run in the final 10 minutes: One of the largest comebacks in the CBS Sports Thanksgiving Classic since its inception in 2022. - 5-2 all-time series lead for Duke over Arkansas, now extended after this win in Chicago. - 20,917 fans packed the United Center—a rare neutral-site crowd that felt like a home game for both teams.

What’s remarkable isn’t just that Boozer scored 35. It’s that he did it on a stage where every possession felt like a spotlight. He didn’t need a 40-point explosion to prove he belongs. He just needed one final possession—and he delivered.