Cameron Boozer’s 35 Points Lead Duke Past Arkansas 80-71 in Thanksgiving Showdown

When Cameron Boozer hit a twisting layup with 2:17 left, the Duke Blue Devils had done the impossible: they’d survived a furious Arkansas rally, weathered a five-point deficit, and pulled out an 80-71 win on Thanksgiving night. The game, played at the United Center in Chicago on November 27, 2025, wasn’t just another early-season matchup—it felt like March in November. And it was broadcast to millions on CBS, making it one of the most-watched non-conference games in recent memory.

A Freshman Carries the Load

Cameron Boozer, the 18-year-old freshman from Charlotte, didn’t just play well—he dominated. On 13-of-18 shooting, he dropped 35 points, pulled down nine rebounds, dished out three assists, and swiped two steals. His final nine minutes were pure clutch: 14 points, including a three-point play that tied the game at 64-64 and a put-back bucket that gave Duke the lead for good. "He wasn’t just scoring," said one ESPN analyst during the broadcast. "He was imposing his will. Every time Arkansas looked like they were going to take over, Boozer answered. That’s what elite players do." His performance was the difference, especially after Arkansas clawed back from a 13-point halftime deficit. The Razorbacks, led by Darius Acuff Jr. (21 points, 5 assists), went on an 8-0 run early in the second half to take a 50-47 lead. For a stretch of six minutes, Duke looked out of rhythm—until Boozer took over.

Coaches on the Big Stage

Both head coaches knew they were playing on a national stage. John Robert Calipari, Arkansas’s veteran coach, called the game "one of the most watched college basketball games in the last decade." He wasn’t exaggerating. The CBS Sports Thanksgiving Day Classic has become a marquee event, drawing over 7 million viewers last year. "We’re building something here," Calipari said postgame. "Playing Duke on Thanksgiving? That’s not just exposure—it’s a statement." For Jonathan Robert Scheyer, Duke’s head coach, the win was validation. After taking over from Mike Krzyzewski, Scheyer has quietly rebuilt Duke into a title contender. "We wanted to test ourselves early," Scheyer said. "Chicago, United Center, primetime on CBS—this is what we signed up for. Arkansas is a tough, physical team. To win this, we needed more than talent. We needed heart."

The Turning Point: Defense Wins Championships

While Boozer stole headlines, it was Caleb Foster who made the game’s most crucial play. With Duke up 68-66 and 1:48 left, Acuff drove baseline, looking to tie the game. Foster, who finished with 15 points and eight assists, slipped into passing lanes, stripped the ball cleanly, and finished at the rim for a two-point lead. That sequence—steal, layup, defensive stop—was the dagger. "Foster didn’t score a lot," noted a postgame analysis on the Duke Basketball Report forum. "But he locked down Acuff the last 10 minutes. That’s the unsung hero play." Arkansas’s offensive inconsistency haunted them. They shot 48% from the field but went 1-for-8 from three in the final 10 minutes. Duke, meanwhile, held them to just 5 points in the final 4:30.

Behind the Scenes: A Game Built for TV

Tickets for the matchup went on presale October 1, 2025, and sold out in under 48 hours. The United Center, home of the Chicago Bulls, was packed with Duke fans in blue and Arkansas loyalists in red. The officiating crew—Steve Anderson, Courtney Green, and Ron Groover—made no controversial calls, keeping the game clean despite the intensity.

What This Means for March

Duke improved to 8-0, but the win exposed a troubling trend: outside of Boozer, the Blue Devils have no consistent scoring threat. Foster (15 points) and Nikolas Khamenia (12 points in 28 minutes) stepped up, but no other player scored more than 7. "If Boozer gets locked down in the ACC tournament," one scout told CBS Sports, "they’re going to struggle. They need a second scorer." For Arkansas, the loss stings, but it’s a sign of growth. After a rough 2024-25 season, they’re showing they can compete with elite teams. They led for 12 minutes in the second half and outrebounded Duke 38-35. "We’re not there yet," Calipari admitted. "But we’re closer than we were in October."

The Bigger Picture

This wasn’t just a game—it was a cultural moment. College basketball’s early-season showcase events are evolving into must-watch TV. With the NCAA tournament field expanding to 68 teams, every non-conference game now carries weight. Duke’s win gives them a signature victory to bolster their NCAA resume. Arkansas, despite the loss, earned respect—and likely a higher seed in March.