BOSTON — Cooper Flagg, a standout freshman for Duke, showcased his talent in a highly anticipated game against Boston College, marking his only appearance in New England for the season. With numerous fans descending upon Chestnut Hill from Maine, where Flagg hails, he delivered an impressive performance, scoring 28 points while contributing five rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocked shots. This victory helped the No. 3 ranked Blue Devils secure an 88-63 win over BC, extending their winning streak to 12 games in front of a sold-out crowd.
Flagg expressed his gratitude for the support he received, stating, “This was my dream growing up, my entire life. To be in that position I’m in right now. So I’m just trying to enjoy it and just stay in the moment.” Many Duke fans, including those who traveled more than three hours from the Newport, Maine area, filled the Conte Forum. As the game concluded and BC fans exited, Duke supporters remained to cheer Flagg, honoring his performance as he exited the court.
The freshman further reflected on the significance of the support, saying, “It’s huge, the level of support; just to see them show up and support me means a lot to me. It just gives me a lot of confidence. Being from Maine… when I was growing up, it’s easy to just not believe in yourself or just think you can’t do that. I just want to keep proving that it doesn’t really matter where you’re from. As long as you stick to it and keep working, you can make anything happen.”
Growing up in Maine, Flagg was a fan of nearby Boston sports teams, including the Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox. He and some teammates even watched the Celtics’ recent game where they triumphed over the Magic. While Duke’s next scheduled northern game is against Syracuse next month, there may be opportunities later in the season for Flagg to engage with fans during a regional final in Providence, Rhode Island. He shared that many people from his hometown expressed excitement about attending the game, revealing that a local reporter had spoken with fans making the journey from Aroostook County near the Canadian border.
Duke’s head coach, Jon Scheyer, remarked on the electric atmosphere at the game, appreciating the incredible turnout of Duke fans. He noted, “What a special turnout. Look, this is as close as we’re going to get to Maine. We’ve been here a lot. The representation of Duke fans has always been great. This was, I think, the best I’ve ever seen it. And I think a lot of it has to do with Maine. So that was a pretty special thing to see,” highlighting Flagg’s role in energizing the crowd with his performance.
