FROM COLLAPSE TO CLIMAX: Duke Star Saves Unbeaten Streak With Insane Clutch Three After Near-Collapse Against Wounded Florida Champions…Read More….

FROM COLLAPSE TO CLIMAX: Duke Star Saves Unbeaten Streak With Insane Clutch Three After Near-Collapse Against Wounded Florida Champions…Read More….

The atmosphere inside Cameron Indoor Stadium on Tuesday night was electric, volatile, and ultimately unforgettable. What began as a commanding showcase of Duke dominance morphed into a nail-biting, season-defining thriller that nearly ended the Blue Devils’ perfect run. Instead, in a moment that will be replayed across college basketball screens for weeks, Duke’s emerging star delivered an outrageous, cold-blooded three-pointer in the final seconds—turning a near-collapse into a dramatic climax worthy of the undefeated streak it preserved.

Duke entered the night 8–0, facing a Florida squad bruised by injuries but burning with pride. The reigning SEC champions, despite missing two starters, refused to play the role of underdog victim. Led by gritty guard play and relentless transition scoring, Florida punched early, stunning Duke with a 14–4 run that silenced the Cameron Crazies and forced Jon Scheyer into a frustrated timeout.

But Duke, as they’ve done all season, adjusted. Freshman forward Cameron Boozer sparked a surge with a thunderous dunk and a pair of midrange jumpers. Veteran guard Tyrese Proctor controlled the tempo, and by halftime Duke held what felt like a comfortable 41–30 cushion.

The second half, however, flipped the script entirely.

Florida, playing with nothing to lose, unleashed a barrage of threes and forced turnovers that rattled Duke into uncharacteristic mistakes. The Blue Devils’ offensive flow dissolved as the Gators’ pressure grew—and suddenly the 11-point halftime lead was gone. With just under four minutes remaining, Florida seized a shocking 68–65 advantage, and Cameron Indoor turned tense, the anxiety building with each Duke miss.

Then came the collapse—almost.

Duke missed consecutive shots at the rim, turned the ball over twice, and allowed Florida to stretch the lead to five with 1:22 to play. Fans who had spent most of the night chanting were now holding their breath. Jon Scheyer pounded his clipboard. Duke’s unbeaten streak, once a point of inevitability, now hung by a thread.

And that’s when the star stepped forward.

With 41 seconds left, Duke sophomore phenom Jared McCain drilled a contested corner three to cut the deficit to two. After a crucial defensive stop, the Blue Devils had one final possession, trailing 72–70 with the clock melting away.

What happened next will live in Duke highlight reels forever.

McCain, tightly guarded and fading to his right, elevated from several feet beyond the arc—an audacious, almost desperate attempt. The ball hung in the air for a heartbeat before splashing cleanly through the net as Cameron Indoor instantly erupted, shaking with a roar that drowned out the final buzzer. Duke 73, Florida 72. Undefeated still.

Scheyer threw his arms up in disbelief. The bench mobbed McCain near midcourt. Florida players collapsed in heartbreak, stunned after nearly engineering the upset of the season.

“It’s what we work for,” McCain said postgame. “The moment came, and I just trusted the shot.”

In a game that tested Duke’s toughness, poise, and identity, they survived by the thinnest of margins—but with a shot that may define their season.

A collapse threatened. A climax saved them. And the Blue Devils remain perfect.