No. 6 Duke University secured a convincing 71-56 victory over the California Golden Bears on January 10, 2024, in Berkeley. The Blue Devils pulled away in the second half, showcasing the talent of freshman Cameron Boozer, who scored 21 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in front of a sellout crowd of 11,201 at Haas Pavilion.
With this win, Duke improved to 16-1 overall and 5-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, continuing its strong season. The Blue Devils led by just three points, 50-47, with ten minutes remaining but surged ahead with a dominant 21-5 run to seal the game. Boozer contributed significantly during this stretch, scoring 11 points.
Game Highlights and Key Performances
Boozer, who entered the game leading the ACC with an average of 22.9 points per game, faced a challenging first half, managing only four points. However, he rebounded impressively after the break. Alongside him, Isaiah Evans added 17 points, providing essential support as Duke overcame struggles from beyond the arc and the free-throw line, finishing with 7 for 32 on three-pointers and 8 for 17 on free throws.
The California Golden Bears, now 13-5 and 1-4 in conference play, were led by Lee Dort, who scored 14 points and collected 9 rebounds. California had a strong start, leading for a total of 14:54 in the first half, including a decisive 10-0 run capped by a dunk from Dort, which gave them a 25-19 advantage with five minutes remaining in the half.
Despite the early lead, the Bears entered halftime trailing 30-24. Duke closed the half with a powerful response, scoring the last 13 points before the break to take a 37-30 lead.
Looking Ahead
This matchup marked the first sellout at Haas Pavilion since February 7, 2024, when California defeated USC 83-77 in overtime. Looking forward, Duke will face Stanford on Saturday, while California will host No. 14 North Carolina on the same day.
As the Blue Devils continue to solidify their position in the national rankings, their performance against California highlights their capacity to recover from slow starts and dominate in critical moments.
