Duke vs St. John's score: Blue Devils hold off Red Storm, advance to Elite 8

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Duke vs St. John's score: Blue Devils hold off Red Storm, advance to Elite 8

Matthew Glenesk and Erick Smith, USA TODAY · USA TODAY Sports

Fri, Mar 27, 2026 ·

5 min read

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WASHINGTON – Duke is on to the Elite Eight , but it wasn't easy. The Blue Devils trailed by as much as 10 in the second half before Caleb Foster and Isiah Evans made huge contributions in a 80-75 win.

Foster, who was returning after three weeks on the sideline with a broken foot, scored 11 points - all in the second half, including a pair of key baskets in the final minutes. Evans led all scorers with 25 points. His 3-pointer with 3:54 left gave the Blue Devils the lead for good. Though Duke missed several free throws that could have iced the game.

In defeat, St. John's showed grit and hustle before falling just short of tying the game on Dylan Darling's 3-pointer missed with 2.1 seconds left. The Red Storm made 13 shots from behind the arc with Ruben Prey hitting all four of his attempts. Zuby Ejiofor led St. John's with 17 points. Duke will play the winner of Connecticut or Michigan State on Sunday.

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EAST IS A BEAST: When does a Sweet 16 resemble a Final Four? In the East Region of March Madness

PITINO BACK IN SWEET 16: Examining St. John's coach's secret sauce to success

Duke vs St John's live score

TEAMS	1H	2H	F
St John's	40	35	75
Duke	39	41	80

Duke edges ahead in crunch time

The teams swapped leads before Isiah Evans, the game's leading scorer with 24 points, hit a long 3 to put Duke back in front. Cameron Boozer then followed that with a driving basket while drawing a foul. We go to the final television timeout with Duke ahead 72-69 with 3:06 left. Boozer will shoot one free throw when play resumes.

Back and forth we go with St. Johns and Duke tied

Duke has found its footing after trailing by 10 in the second half. Isiah Evans, who leads all scorers with 21 points, has been the catalyst with an assortment of shots from 3, in the mid range and at the basket. St. John's has stayed in the game with 12 of 26 shooting from behind the arc. The latest by Bryce Hopkins stopped a Duke run before Evans tied things up at 65 with 6:23 left.

Duke getting a big lift from Caleb Foster's return

The Blue Devils trailed by as much as 10 in the second half before point guard Caleb Foster stepped up with seven consecutive points for Duke. Foster, who has been sidelined for three weeks before his return tonight, drove to the basket for three short-range shots and was fouled on another. He then made 1 of 2 free throws. A driving layup by Cameron Boozer cut the deficit to 57-54 with 11:46 left in the second half.

Ruben Prey, Zuby Ejiofor powering St. John's

Ruben Prey has been an unlikely star for St. John's as the Red Storm have taken control in the second half against Duke. Prey hit is fourth 3-pointer of the game as St. John's has taken a 53-44 lead with 15:26 left. Zuby Ejiofor, the team's leading scorer with 13 points, has been a big part of the 13-0 run that has the Blue Devils on their heels.

Duke forward Cameron Boozer (12) attempts to shoot the ball while defended by St. John's forward Bryce Hopkins (23) during the Sweet 16 of the East Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena.

St. John's transition game taking control

Duke got the first five points of the second half on a post up by Cameron Boozer and a transition 3-pointer by Isaiah Evans to go ahead by four. St. John's quickly responded with the next eight points with its defense causing turnovers that have led to a pair of fast-break baskets. A dunk by Zuby Ejiofor capped the run and put the Red Storm ahead 48-44 with 17:06 left. Duke has called timeout to get settled.

St. John's leads Duke at halftime

Duke slowly gained control of its Sweet 16 game against St. John's but the Red Storm had a late surge to take a 40-39 advantage at halftime. The Blue Devils have found success on drives to the basket and drawing fouls, and they pushed their lead to seven late in the first half. However, St. John's stayed in the game and eventually took the lead with some hot shooting. The Red Storm only shoot 33.2% as a team from 3-point range, but they made 9 of their 18 attempts in the first half with six different players hitting shots. Isaiah Evans of Duke leads all scorers with 11 points. Dillon Mitchell and Ruben Prey have 9 points for St. John's.

Duke surges back ahead

A lull midway through the first half was quickly dispatched with Duke getting into the lane consistently against the St. John's defense. A three-point play by Cameron Boozer and another two free throws was part of a 12-2 run that pushed the Blue Devils ahead 35-28 with 3:26 left in the half. Another negative development for St. John's: starting forward Bryce Hopkins is on the bench after his second foul, a late whistle after a shot by Nikolas Khamenia missed underneath the basket.

St. John's holding slim lead on Duke

Duke found its footing after trialing by six with a highlight dunk by Dame Sarr completing a 6-0 run to tie the game. However, Dillon Mitchell hit a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession to put St. John's back in the lead at 26-23. Mitchell is leading all scorers with 9 points. Isaiah Evans has 8 points for the Blue Devils.

St. John's causing problems for Duke

Duke's size has been an issue for teams throughout the season, but the Blue Devils are struggling to deal with the athleticism of St. Johns. The Red Storm's defensive pressure has forced numerous turnover and its aggressiveness for loose balls has seen them outhustle Duke. A 3-pointer by Bryce Hopkins midway through the first half has St. John's up 23-17.

St. John's finding its rhythm after slow start

The Red Storm has taken a 19-5 lead with 11:51 left. They are on a 15-4 run, helped some hot shooting. St. John's is 7-for-10 from the field, including 3 of 5 from the three-point line. Dillon Mitchell leads all scorers with 6 points. Duke has been bothered by the Red Storm press in the early going, causing some issues on offense after a strong start.

Caleb Foster makes impact for Duke

Duke is holding a slim 13-11 advantage in the early going. The Blue Devils started fast and had led by seven five minutes into the game. But a 3-pointer from Dylan Darling and a steal and basketball by Dillon Mitchell quickly shaved five points from the deficit. Caleb Foster has entered the game for Duke after being sidelined for three weeks with a broken foot. He quickly made an impact with an alley-pass to Patrick Ngongba for a dunk.

Duke takes early advantage on St. John's

Balanced scoring has been the order of business for Duke with its first four baskets coming from different sources. The Blue Devils hold an 11-4 lead after a Cayden Boozer 3-point shot. Dillon Mitchell scored the first four points for St. John's, the second basket coming on a nice inside pass from Zuby Ejiofor.

Caleb Foster expected to play for Duke

Some good news for the Blue Devils ahead of their Sweet 16 matchup. Starting guard Caleb Foster is expected to play after being sidelined since breaking a bone in his foot on March 7. Foster was with other Duke players warming up prior to tip-off and had returned to practice this week. Cayden Boozer has filled in well in his absence and remains in the starting lineup.

What time is St John's vs Duke?

Time:7:15 p.m. ET, Friday, March 27.

What channel is St John's vs Duke? How to watch, streaming info

The game is airing on CBS, streaming via Paramount+.

Duke vs St. John's prediction, odds

Odds provided by BetMGM .

∎ Anna Snyder, Fayetteville Observer :Duke 68, St. John's 65

Expect a defensive battle in Washington , D.C. Duke's defense and Cameron Boozer's starpower are enough for the Blue Devils to hold off ZUby Ejiofor and the Red Storm.

Blake Toppmeyer:Duke
Paul Myerberg:St. John's
Jordan Mendoza:Duke
John Brice:Duke
Matt Glenesk:St. John's
Craig Meyer:Duke
John Leuzzi:Duke
Austin Curtright:Duke
Ehsan Kassim:Duke
Moneyline:Duke (-285); St. John's (+230)
Spread:Duke (-6.5)
Over/under total:140.5

Iowa State Cyclones fans cheer against the Kentucky Wildcats during the first half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Enterprise Center on March 22, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri.

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Kansas Jayhawks cheerleaders perform before a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the St. John's Red Storm at Viejas Arena on March 22, 2026 in San Diego, Calif.
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Nebraska's Berke Buyuktuncel celebrates with fans following a second-round game in the NCAA men's basketball tournament between Nebraska Cornhuskers and Vanderbilt Commodores at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on March 21, 2026.

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Former North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Roy Williams is seen in the crowd against the VCU Rams in the second half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on Mar 19, 2026 in Greenville, SC.
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Texas A&M Aggies cheerleaders during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Paycom Center on March 19, 2026 in Oklahoma City.
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Texas Longhorns band in the first half against the BYU Cougars during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center on Mar 19, 2026 in Portland.
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St. John's Red Storm mascot Johnny Thunder mixes with players prior to taking the court during practice day ahead of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena at San Diego State University on March 19, 2026 in San Diego, California.
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The High Point Panthers cheerleaders react during the second half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the Wisconsin Badgers at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Or.
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The North Dakota State Bison mascot and cheerleaders pose for a photo before the game against the Michigan State Spartans during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Keybank Center on March 19, 2026 in Buffalo, NY
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The Wisconsin Badgers mascot performs during a time out during the second half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the High Point Panthers at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland.
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A view of Buddy the Street Dog as Queens University of Charlotte Royals guard Yoav Berman talks to the media during a practice session ahead of the first round of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Enterprise Center in St. Louis on March 19, 2026.
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The High Point Panthers band performs prior to a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the Wisconsin Badgers at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Or.
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High Point Panthers fans cheer prior to a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the Wisconsin Badgers at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Or.
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The Wisconsin Badgers cheerleaders preform during the first half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the High Point Panthers at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Or.
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The South Florida Bulls mascot performs during the second half against the Louisville Cardinals during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Keybank Center on March 19, 2026 in Buffalo, NY.
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The Texas Christian University Horned Frogs cheerleaders perform in the first half during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 19, 2026 in Greenville, SC.
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The Troy Trojans mascot dances on the floor during the second half against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Paycom Center on March 19, 2026 in Oklahoma City.
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The UCF Knights band performs during a practice session ahead of the first round of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 19, 2026 in Philadelphia.
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Nebraska Cornhuskers cheerleaders perform during the second half against the Troy Trojans during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Paycom Center on March 19, 2026 in Oklahoma City.
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A Wisconsin Badgers cheerleader performs during the first half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the High Point Panthers at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Or.
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The Ohio State Buckeyes cheerleaders perform in the second half during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 19, 2026 in Greenville, SC.
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Akron Zips fans in the first half against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Benchmark International Arena on March 20, 2026 in Tampa, Fla.
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Texas Tech Red Raiders cheerleaders in the first half against the Akron Zips during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Benchmark International Arena on March 20, 2026 in Tampa, Fla.
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Santa Clara Broncos fans react to game play against the Kentucky Wildcats during the second half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Enterprise Center on March 20, 2026 in St. Louis, MO.
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Akron Zips cheerleaders and mascot in the second half against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Benchmark International Arena on March 20, 2026 in Tampa, Fla.
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Wright State Raiders fans celebrate after a Wright State Raiders guard TJ Burch (22) scores during the second half against the Virginia Cavaliers during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 20, 2026 in Philadelphia, PA.
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Hofstra Pride cheerleaders in the second half against the Alabama Crimson Tide during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Benchmark International Arena on March 20, 2026 in Tampa, Fla.
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Garth Noble of the Louisville pep band is amped at the 2026 NCAA Women's March Madness basketball tournament at the KFC Yum Center In Louisville, Kentucky. March 21, 2026.
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Michigan head coach Dusty May high-fives players after 95-72 win over Saint Louis at the NCAA Tournament Second Round at KeyBank Center in Buffalo on Saturday, March 21, 2026.
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The Notre Dame Fighting Irish band and spirit squad cheer during the first round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament against the Fairfield Stags at Ohio State's Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 21, 2026.
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Caleb Foster injury update: Will Duke guard today play vs St John's

Could Duke have its point guard back for Friday's Sweet 16 game against St. John's?

Blue Devils coach Jon Scheyer told reporters during a media availability Thursday that Caleb Foster is going to be a game-time decision for Friday's 7:10 p.m. ET tip-off against the 5th-seeded Red Storm.

"He's in a position where he's going to try to do that tomorrow night," Scheyer told reporters . "... He's going to give it everything he has to go tomorrow night."

Foster has been out since March 7 with a foot injury that he sustained in the final game of the regular season against North Carolina.

Rick Pitino NCAA Tournament history: When was Rick Pitino's last Sweet 16 appearance?

Rick Pitino has been to 14 Sweet 16s. His last trip to the Sweet 16 prior to this season was in 2014-15 with Louisville.

What is Rick Pitino's record in Sweet 16 games?

The St. John's coach is a remarkable 12-1 in the Sweet 16. His lone loss was in 2014 with Louisville... to Kentucky.

Cameron Boozer NBA draft stock, mock draft predictions

Boozer is widely projected as a top-3 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Here's a look at where various mock drafts from major outlets have the Duke freshman going:

USA TODAY (as of March 13): No. 3 overall to the Sacramento Kings
ESPN (as of March 11): No. 3 overall to the Indiana Pacers
CBS Sports (as of March 17): No. 3 overall to the Brooklyn Nets

Is Cameron Boozer related to Carlos Boozer ?

Cameron Boozer and his twin brother, Cayden (also a freshman for Duke) are the sons of former NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer.

Before his 13-year career in the NBA, Carlos Boozer was a standout forward for the Blue Devils under Mike Krzyzewski from 1999-2002. A member of Duke's 2001 national championship team, Carlos Boozer finished his three-year career with the Blue Devils with more than 1,500 points scored and started 93 of the 101 games in which he appeared.

Rick Pitino history vs Duke: Christian Laettner shot

on the eve of another game against Duke, the memory is still fresh for Pitino, who was the coach at Kentucky in 1992 when Christian Laettner hit a game-winning shot at the buzzer to beat Kentucky and lift Duke to the Final Four.

The flashback still seems to make him edgy. He said Sunday he was "so sick of commercials with Christian Laettner hitting that shot over and over and over."

He said friends recently convinced him to watch a show on Hulu called "Paradise" but then learned Laettner's shot is referenced in that, too.

"That's cruel," Pitino said.

He got his own buzzer-beater from Darling Sunday. Now it's on to Duke in Washington, D.C.

"You win some, you lose some," Pitino said. "And I'm hoping we can get Duke at the buzzer next to make up for that Christian Laettner shot."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Duke vs St John's score, highlights: Blue Devils advance to Elite 8

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Actors, athletes and icons: Famous alumni from every NCAA men’s tournament team

Actors, athletes and icons: Famous alumni from every NCAA men’s tournament team

Actors, athletes and icons: Famous alumni from every NCAA men’s tournament team

Actors, athletes and icons: Famous alumni from every NCAA men’s tournament team

Actors, athletes and icons: Famous alumni from every NCAA men’s tournament team

Actors, athletes and icons: Famous alumni from every NCAA men’s tournament team

Actors, athletes and icons: Famous alumni from every NCAA men’s tournament team

Actors, athletes and icons: Famous alumni from every NCAA men’s tournament team

Actors, athletes and icons: Famous alumni from every NCAA men’s tournament team

Duke vs St John's live score

Duke edges ahead in crunch time

Back and forth we go with St. Johns and Duke tied

Duke getting a big lift from Caleb Foster's return

Ruben Prey, Zuby Ejiofor powering St. John's

St. John's transition game taking control

St. John's leads Duke at halftime

Duke surges back ahead

St. John's holding slim lead on Duke

St. John's causing problems for Duke

St. John's finding its rhythm after slow start

Caleb Foster makes impact for Duke

Duke takes early advantage on St. John's

Caleb Foster expected to play for Duke

What time is St John's vs Duke?

What channel is St John's vs Duke? How to watch, streaming info

Duke vs St. John's prediction, odds

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Caleb Foster injury update: Will Duke guard today play vs St John's

Rick Pitino NCAA Tournament history: When was Rick Pitino's last Sweet 16 appearance?

What is Rick Pitino's record in Sweet 16 games?

Cameron Boozer NBA draft stock, mock draft predictions

Is Cameron Boozer related to Carlos Boozer ?

Rick Pitino history vs Duke: Christian Laettner shot