Cameron Boozer helped Duke topple NC State to seal the outright ACC regular-season title with a 93-64 win on Monday night. The win marked Duke’s seventh in a row, and Boozer once again proved he is far more than just freshman hype.
Cameron Boozer Laughs Off Painful Scratches Following Blowout Win Over NC State
Boozer left the floor with noticeable scratches on his arm on Monday, with blood visible from the cuts. He briefly sat on the bench to recover before returning to action to pick up the magnificent win.
The marks came from the physical defense deployed by NC State in an effort to contain the Duke freshman phenom, but he brushed it off with humor.
“It was some point in the second half,” Boozer said following the game. “One of their big men. The Wolfpack just got me, you know. They got long claws, so yeah. I think it just goes to show our fight that tells us we brought to this game part of our guys when they see our rights.”
However, Boozer once again showed on Monday why many view him as one of the best players in college basketball. He poured in 26 points on an efficient 8-of-10 shooting night and knocked down nine of his 11 free throws against NC State. He accounted for nine of the Wolfpack’s 22 total fouls, marking his third consecutive game with at least 11 free-throw attempts.
Boozer has now posted 15 or more points and five or more rebounds in 24 straight games, matching Zach Edey for the longest such streak by a Division I player in the past 15 seasons.
With Monday’s performance, he reached 653 points, 291 rebounds, and 115 assists before the ACC Tournament, becoming the first Division I freshman in the last three decades to hit those benchmarks before conference tournament play.
Boozer is currently averaging 22.5 points, 10 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game while shooting 57.7% from the field. NBA scouts are already closely monitoring his draft stock, and his phenomenal performance has also positioned him as a frontrunner for major individual honors, such as the Wooden Award. However, Boozer is focused on soaking in team glory.
“I think it just goes to show our fight, the toughness we brought to this game,” Boozer said. “I’m proud of our guys. Like Coach said, won the ACC outright. So it’s big-time for our team, for sure.”
The NC State win also marked a milestone for Duke head coach Jon Scheyer, who improved to 117-24 in his tenure. His 117 wins tie Brad Stevens for the most by a Division I coach in their first four seasons.
