WASHINGTON (Interstat) — Cameron Boozer scored 18 points and Duke used a decisive rebounding edge to hold off Michigan 68-63 in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday at Capital One Arena. The Blue Devils, who led 35-33 at halftime, outrebounded the Wolverines 12-7 on the offensive glass, leading to key second-chance opportunities. Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg led all scorers with 21 points. Both teams are now 25-2 this season. Duke shot 45.5% from the field while Michigan was held to 40%. The Wolverines missed 19 of 25 attempts from 3-point range in the loss before a crowd of 20,537.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Interstat) — In a heavyweight clash between two of the nation’s premier programs, Duke edged Michigan 68-63 in a nonconference men’s basketball showdown Saturday night at a sold-out Capital One Arena. The game, played before 20,537 fans, featured 14 lead changes and eight ties, living up to its billing as a potential national championship preview. Both teams entered with identical 25-2 records and exited with the same mark, their seasons defined by dominance but now marked by this pivotal result. Duke’s Cameron Boozer, the versatile 6-foot-9 forward from Miami, delivered a masterful all-around performance to steer the Blue Devils to victory. He finished with 18 points, seven assists and two blocks, orchestrating the offense and making critical plays down the stretch. His back-to-back baskets — a driving layup followed by a 3-pointer from the wing — with under two minutes to play broke a 61-61 tie and gave Duke a five-point cushion it would not relinquish. Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg was equally formidable, battling for a game-high 21 points to go with three assists and two blocks in 38 minutes. The 6-foot-9 forward from Pennsauken, New Jersey, kept the Wolverines afloat with timely scoring, including a deep 3-pointer with 3:49 remaining that tied the game at 59. The contest was a defensive struggle defined by efficiency more than offensive fireworks. Duke scored 68 points on just 61 possessions, an offensive rating of 111.3, while Michigan managed 63 points on 64 trips, a 99.1 rating. The Blue Devils shot 45.5% from the field (25 of 55), matching Michigan’s 22-of-55 effort, but won the battle in the paint 34-24 and on the offensive glass, securing 12 rebounds to Michigan’s seven. The first half set the tone for the nail-biter, with Duke taking a narrow 35-33 lead into halftime. The Blue Devils built their largest lead of the game at nine points, 49-40, after a Patrick Ngongba alley-oop with 11:25 left in the second half. Ngongba, a 6-11 center from Manassas, Virginia, was a force inside for Duke, contributing 11 points and two blocks. Michigan responded with a 12-4 run, fueled by Lendeborg and center Aday Mara. The 7-3 freshman from Zaragoza, Spain, provided a crucial interior presence off the bench, scoring 10 points and blocking two shots. His putback layup with 5:31 left cut Duke’s lead to 53-52, setting up the tense final minutes. Duke’s supporting cast made key contributions. Caleb Foster scored 12 points and dished four assists, while Isaiah Evans shook off a cold shooting start to finish with 14 points, including two critical free throws with 14 seconds left to seal the win. Michigan’s Elliot Cadeau directed the offense with six assists and eight points, and Morez Johnson added 13 points and three blocks. The most important sequence of the game unfolded in the final two minutes with the score knotted at 61. After a Michigan miss, Duke worked the clock before Boozer drove hard from the left wing, absorbed contact and finished a tough layup to put Duke ahead 63-61 with 1:55 on the clock. On the ensuing possession, Michigan’s Lendeborg was stripped by Duke’s defense, leading to a transition opportunity. Boozer trailed the play, received a pass from Foster and calmly sank a 3-pointer from the right corner, pushing the lead to 66-61 with 1:01 remaining. Michigan could not recover from that five-point deficit in the closing minute. The victory gives Duke a significant resume boost as it heads into the final stretch of Atlantic Coast Conference play. The Blue Devils travel to Notre Dame on Tuesday. Michigan, which saw a seven-game winning streak snapped, will look to rebound when it hosts Minnesota on Tuesday before a crucial two-game set at Illinois later in the week.

Top-Ranked Powers Collide as Michigan Faces Duke in Capital Showdown WASHINGTON (Interstat) — A potential national championship preview unfolds Saturday when the top two teams in the country, Michigan and Duke, meet in a marquee nonconference clash at Capital One Arena. The Wolverines (25-1), whose only loss came in November, enter on a 19-game winning streak. They are coming off a 91-80 road victory at then-Purdue on Tuesday, led by guard Elliot Cadeau’s 17 points and seven assists. Cadeau has been a steady force, averaging 9.6 points and 6.6 assists over his last eight games. The Blue Devils (24-2), whose two losses are by a combined six points, have won 10 of their last 11. They demolished Syracuse 101-64 on Monday behind 22 points from forward Cameron Boozer. The standout sophomore is averaging 21.9 points over his last seven contests, including a 32-point, 9-rebound performance against Wake Forest last month. This high-stakes matchup, staged on a neutral court in the nation’s capital, features contrasting strengths. Michigan’s offense, averaging 84.2 points per game, is orchestrated by Cadeau and fueled by balance, with four players scoring in double figures in the win at Purdue. Duke counters with a formidable defense, allowing just 62.8 points per game, anchored by the versatile 6-foot-9 Boozer. The game marks a rare regular-season meeting of the nation’s top two teams in February. Both squads have dominated their conference schedules, with Michigan atop the Big Ten and Duke leading the Atlantic Coast Conference. A win would bolster either team’s case for the overall seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament. For Duke, it’s an opportunity to avenge last season’s Elite Eight loss to the Wolverines. For Michigan, it’s a chance to solidify its historic season with a statement victory against its closest competitor. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. EST Saturday, Feb. 21, with television coverage on ESPN.