DURHAM, N.C. — Cooper Flagg registered 13 points and 11 rebounds as the seventh-ranked Duke Blue Devils overwhelmed Army with a decisive 100-58 win on Friday evening.
Khaman Maluach contributed 11 points and secured 14 rebounds for Duke, improving their record to 2-0. Other key performances included 15 points from Kon Knueppel, 14 from Tyrese Proctor, 12 by Sion James, and 11 from Caleb Foster.
On the opposing side, Army (1-1) was led by Jalen Rucker, who notched 17 points, while Josh Scovens supported with 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
Notably present at Cameron Indoor Stadium was former Army and Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski, who is a graduate of West Point and holds the record for the most victories in NCAA Division I men’s basketball history. He attended the game with his wife, Mickie.
**Insights:**
For Duke, Flagg played limited minutes, totaling just 25 as he appeared to grapple with cramps during the second half, utilizing a massage device on his hamstrings and frequently hydrating with Gatorade. To effectively compete against tougher opponents, Duke will depend on the health and availability of the preseason AP All-American Flagg throughout the entire game.
Army struggled defensively, allowing Duke to connect on 17 three-pointers—surpassing any similar performance in the previous season.
**Turning Point:**
A significant moment in the game was when Flagg executed a stunning two-handed dunk from a lob pass by Proctor after James intercepted the ball from Army. This electrifying transition play sparked a substantial 29-7 run for Duke over the next 13 minutes.
**Remarkable Statistic:**
Duke proved to be dominant on both rebounds and inside scoring, leading Army 36-18 in points in the paint and garnering 17-7 in second-chance points. Furthermore, Duke’s rebounding advantage was clear, with a total of 50 rebounds compared to Army’s 32.
**Next Steps:**
Looking ahead, Duke will face their first major conference challenge on Tuesday, squaring off against No. 23 Kentucky in Atlanta. Meanwhile, Army will return to their home court to play against Division III opponent Mount Saint Mary.