Duke Stuns LSU 87-85 With Buzzer-Beater, Reaches Elite Eight
A neck-and-neck match was changed in the final moments at the Golden 1 Center last night. Right before the red LED lights flashed around the backboard, the ball danced on the rim for what felt like an eternity before falling through the net, clinching an 87-85 victory for Duke over LSU. The Sweet 16 matchup between Kim Mulkey’s LSU Tigers and Kara Lawson’s Duke Blue Devils was nothing short of a nail-biter from the opening tip.
In a game that lived up to every bit of the “March Madness” billing, the No. 3-seeded Blue Devils have unseated the No. 2-seeded Tigers. With this upset, Kara Lawson and her team have officially punched their ticket to the Elite Eight.
The Rematch: A Season of Growth
The Blue Devils’ victory on Friday night was a classic tale of redemption, avenging their regular-season failure against the Tigers. These two teams previously squared off on December 4, 2025, during the ACC/SEC Challenge. In that meeting, the Tigers dominated the Blue Devils in Durham, cruising to a 93-77 victory. At that point, Duke held a 3-6 record, and critics questioned if Kara Lawson’s squad could compete with the nation’s elite.
However, the Duke team that took the floor at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento was a transformed unit. Since that winter loss, the Blue Devils have won 23 of their last 25 games, evolving into a defensive powerhouse with an overall record of 27-8. The Sweet 16 clash has highlighted this evolution. By the time the final buzzer sounded, Duke had proved that their early-season struggles were a distant memory, effectively erasing the bitterness of their defeat in December.
Turning Points That Defined the Game
Duke had the upper hand in the first two quarters, outscoring the Tigers 24-19 and 23-21 to carry a 47-40 lead into halftime. By the second half, LSU began closing the gap with 25 points against Duke’s 20 points. Behind the explosive play of MiLaysia Fulwiley, who finished with a game-high 28 points, the Tigers gave the Blue Devils a tough game.
However, Duke’s resilience was anchored in Lawson’s philosophy, “handle ‘hard’ better.” The Blue Devils leaned on their frontcourt, with Arianna Roberson putting on a masterclass in interior positioning. Roberson finished just shy of a double-double with 9 points and 10 rebounds, providing the defensive anchor Duke needed.
The fourth quarter evolved into a tactical chess match, with both teams executing high-stakes adjustments in the closing minutes. Duke appeared to take control early, scoring 11 straight points in just over two minutes. This quick scoring burst gave the Blue Devils a solid 78-67 lead with less than eight minutes left on the clock.
However, the Tigers refused to give up and fought back with an 18-7 run to take the lead. With only 9.2 seconds remaining, the Tigers held an 85-84 lead after two clutch free throws from Mikaylah Williams. This set the stage for the final dramatic moment, a long three-point shot by Duke’s Ashlon Jackson that hung around the rim before dropping through the net exactly as the buzzer sounded, sealing the 87-85 win.
Looking Ahead: The Elite Eight
By clearing the Sweet 16 hurdle, the Blue Devils are now looking ahead to a high-stakes Elite Eight matchup this Sunday. They will return to the Golden 1 Center to face the No. 1-seeded UCLA Bruins, who advanced after a dominant 80-56 win over Minnesota. However, defeating a powerhouse team like LSU has given Duke a surge of confidence to face their next formidable opponent. After proving they can “handle hard better,” Kara Lawson’s team believes they can win it.
