Freshman forward Cameron Boozer scored 35 points to match his career high and he had enough help down the stretch as No. 4 Duke beat No. 22 Arkansas 80-71 on Thursday night in Chicago.
Boozer made 13 of 18 shots from the field, including a pair of 3-point baskets, and had clutch moments in what was a one-possession margin in the waning minutes. He also had nine rebounds.
Caleb Foster added 15 points and Patrick Ngongba II had 11 points for Duke (8-0). Isaiah Evans made three first-half 3s for all his points.
It was a special return to Duke coach Jon Scheyer’s hometown, largely because of Boozer’s performance. This is Duke’s first 8-0 start to a season in eight years.
Darius Acuff Jr.’s 21 points led Arkansas (5-2), while Meleek Thomas had 13 points and Billy Richmond III and Trevon Brazile each added 11 points. Brazile had a game-high 11 rebounds. The Razorbacks were 10-for-30 on 3-pointers, with Acuff connecting four times.
Boozer scored six points in the final 3 1/2 minutes. Arkansas was within 70-69 with less than three minutes to play.
Thomas scored five straight points as Arkansas grabbed a 50-47 lead, and soon built a five-point edge as Duke went about 4 1/2 minutes without a field goal.
It was even again at 64-64 on Boozer’s three-point play with 6:13 remaining.
The Razorbacks had four consecutive possessions without a point, but Acuff’s steal and layup changed that, bringing Arkansas back to within 68-66.
Boozer scored coming out of a timeout but Thomas countered with his third 3-point basket followed by Foster’s 3 in a high-level back and forth.
Duke was up 39-27 in the first half before the Razorbacks closed within 41-35 by halftime.
The Blue Devils were slow at the beginning, posting only seven points in the game’s first seven minutes.
This was Duke’s third neutral-court matchup against a power-conference opponent this month.
