DURHAM, N.C. (Interstat) — In a tense, defensive struggle that came down to the final possession, Duke remained undefeated, escaping with a 67-66 victory over Florida on Tuesday night at a raucous Cameron Indoor Stadium.

The Blue Devils improved to 9-0, while the Gators fell to 5-3 in a game characterized more by grit and defensive stops than offensive artistry.

Duke appeared poised to pull away early, building a 36-24 halftime lead behind a balanced attack and a formidable interior defense that blocked seven shots in the first period. Cameron Boozer, the standout sophomore from Miami, Florida, led the charge with 15 first-half points. Florida, meanwhile, struggled to find any offensive rhythm, shooting just 29% from the field before the break.

The second half told a completely different story. The Gators, led by the relentless play of forward Thomas Haugh, chipped away at the deficit with increased defensive pressure and more efficient scoring. Haugh, a 6-foot-9 sophomore from New Oxford, Pennsylvania, scored 18 of his game-high 24 points after halftime, willing Florida back into contention.

A driving layup by Boogie Fland of Florida cut the Duke lead to 64-63 with just under 90 seconds remaining. After a Duke miss, Haugh was fouled and calmly sank two free throws to give Florida its first lead since the opening minutes, 65-64, with 1:11 left on the clock.

Duke’s response came from its star. Boozer, who finished with a team-high 29 points, hit a critical step-back three-pointer from the top of the key with 21 seconds remaining, silencing the small contingent of Florida fans and putting the Blue Devils back ahead 67-65.

Florida did not fold. On the ensuing possession, Fland drew a foul on a three-point attempt with 4.4 seconds left. The freshman guard from the Bronx, New York, who scored 16 points, made the first free throw but missed the second. He intentionally missed the third, and a chaotic scramble for the rebound resulted in a held ball, with the possession arrow favoring Duke with 0.8 seconds left.

Duke’s ensuing inbound pass was tipped away, and Florida’s Thomas Haugh gathered the loose ball, turning and firing a desperation heave from near midcourt that rattled off the backboard and the front of the rim as the horn sounded, preserving Duke’s narrow victory.

While Boozer’s scoring prowess led the box score, Duke’s win was anchored by a dominant defensive performance, particularly near the rim. The Blue Devils blocked 11 shots, with Patrick Ngongba (5 blocks) and Isaiah Evans (5 blocks) acting as erasers in the paint. Ngongba, a 6-foot-11 center from Manassas, Virginia, added 11 points and five assists. Evans contributed 13 points.

Florida’s comeback effort was fueled by Haugh’s 24-point, 11-rebound double-double and 12 points from 6-foot-11 center Alex Condon of Perth, Australia. The Gators won the rebounding battle 45-38, including 15 offensive boards, and scored 42 second-half points. However, they were ultimately undone by cold shooting, finishing 25 of 67 from the field and 7 of 28 from three-point range.

Duke was only marginally more efficient, shooting 25 for 56 overall. The Blue Devils’ offensive rating of 103.7 on 65 possessions narrowly outperformed Florida’s 94.7 on 70 trips, a key differential in the one-point game. Both teams committed 12 turnovers, and each recorded seven steals and seven assists.

The game, played in front of 9,314 fans, was a significant step up in competition for both teams. Duke, which entered as an 8.5-point favorite according to sportsbooks, saw its pregame win probability of 69.2% nearly vanish in the final minutes. The total score of 133 fell well under the over/under line of 155.5, underscoring the defensive nature of the contest.

For Duke, the victory continues a strong early-season run that includes wins over Kansas, Texas, and Arkansas. The Blue Devils travel to face Michigan State on Saturday.

Florida, which has faced a tough early schedule with games against Arizona and Providence, showed resilience in the comeback. The Gators will look to rebound next Tuesday when they face Connecticut in Madison Square Garden.

The contest served as an early-season benchmark, revealing Duke’s poise under late-game pressure and Florida’s capacity to compete with the nation’s elite, even in a hostile environment.