March 12, 2026; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Florida State Seminoles guard Robert McCray V. (6) attempts a final second shot while Duke Blue Devils guard Dame Sarr (7) defends during the second half at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images Isaiah Evans scored a career-high 32 points as top-seeded Duke held off eighth-seeded Florida State 80-79 in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament on Thursday night in Charlotte.
The Blue Devils (30-2) advance to the semifinals against Clemson, looking for their third ACC title in four seasons under Jon Scheyer. Freshman phenom Cameron Boozer added 23 points, 10 rebounds and four assists for Duke, which was playing without injured starters Patrick Ngongba and Caleb Foster.
Florida State (18-15) was boosted by 28 points to 25 from Raje Jones and Robert McCray V. Chauncey Wiggins scored 13 points.
Duke moved up to first with 37.8 seconds left. The Blue Devils ran down the clock on their next possession before getting a shot, but Boozer’s 14-foot attempt was blocked by Alex Steen. The Seminoles attacked the court but settled for a 3-point attempt by McCray that missed the mark just before the buzzer.
10th Virginia 81, North Carolina 74
Malik Thomas provided crucial late-game production, finishing with 16 points, and Thijs De Ridder had 15 points as the Cavaliers held off the Wolfpack.
Reserve Zachary White scored 13 points and Sam Lewis delivered all 12 of his points on 3-pointers for the second-seeded Cavaliers (28-4), who meet Miami in the semifinals. Virginia center Ugonna Onyenso’s eight blocked shots were the second most in a game in league tournament history.
Virginia has beaten NC State in three matchups this season, but this was the closest meeting. Paul McNeil Jr. made six 3-pointers en route to 26 points for seventh-seeded NC (20-13). Ven-Allen Lubin had 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Clemson 80, no. 19 North Carolina 79
Nick Davidson had 17 points and 11 rebounds as the fifth-seeded Tigers held on against the fourth-seeded Tar Heels.
Derek Dixon’s 3-pointer off a Seth Trimble dish cut Clemson’s lead to one point with 2.9 seconds left, capping a 21-7 late surge for the Tar Heels. North Carolina had a chance on its final possession of the game, but Jarin Stevenson’s power run from halfcourt was short-lived.
Davidson was one of six players to score in double figures for Clemson (24-9). North Carolina (24-8) was led by Henry Visar’s career-high 28 points and 17 rebounds, and Dixon added 16 points.
Miami 78, no. 24 Louisville 73
Malik Reneau poured in 24 points and made a key play in the second half as the Hurricanes defeated the Cardinals in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament in Charlotte.
True Washington had 17 points off the Miami bench and Tre Donaldson provided 14 points and six assists for the third-seeded Hurricanes (25-7), who avenged a loss from the weekend when the teams met for the second time in six days.
Ryan Cornwell scored 22 points for sixth-seeded Louisville (23-10), but went 1-for-10 on 3-point attempts, contributing to the team’s 25% accuracy (6-for-24) from beyond the arc. J’Vonne Hadley had 19 points.
–Field level media
