SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Cameron Boozer had 24 points and 13 rebounds as No. 1 Duke beat Notre Dame 100-56 on Tuesday night, handing the Irish their worst home loss since 1898.
Duke (26-2, 14-1 Atlantic Coast Conference), playing its first game this season as No. 1, was coming off a win over then-No. 1 Michigan on Saturday. The Blue Devils ended Notre Dame’s streak of six home wins against AP No. 1-ranked teams, starting with UCLA in 1974, when the Fighting Irish ended UCLA’s record 88-game winning streak.
The only larger home loss in Notre Dame history was a 64-8 drubbing by Chicago First Regiment on Jan. 29, 1898, the fourth game ever for Notre Dame’s basketball program.
The 6-foot-9 Boozer, a national Player of the Year contender, overpowered Notre Dame, scoring 20 points and grabbing nine rebounds in the first half as the Blue Devils rolled to a 54-22 halftime lead. He hit 10 of 12 shots in the first half.
Tuesday’s effort marked Boozer’s ninth game of at least 20 points and 10 rebounds, tied with Washington’s Hannes Steinbach for the most among Division I freshmen.
Darren Harris scored 16 points for Duke and Patrick Ngongba II and Caleb Foster scored 13 points each.
Cole Certa and Brady Koehler each scored 14 points for Notre Dame.
Notre Dame (12-16, 3-12) played its third consecutive game without freshman Jalen Haralson (ankle sprain), who was averaging 15.5 points.
Haralson has been Notre Dame’s leading scorer since star guard Markus Burton suffered an ankle injury that required surgery in December. Burton, who is unlikely to play again this season, averaged 18.5 points. Notre Dame also lost big man Kebba Njie to a knee injury in January.
Even Notre Dame head coach Micah Shrewsberry suffered an apparent ankle injury during the game and was wearing a boot on his left leg in the second half.
The Associated Press and ESPN Research contributed to this report.
