DURHAM, N.C. — In an impressive display, Cooper Flagg contributed significantly to No. 14 Duke’s resounding victory over Virginia Tech, finishing with 24 points in an 88-65 triumph on Tuesday evening. This win marked Duke’s seventh consecutive victory, further enhancing their strong season start.

Joining Flagg in the scoring effort, Tyrese Proctor and Kon Knueppel each added 13 points. Isaiah Evans contributed 12 points, while Sion James and Mason Gillis both scored 10 points for Duke, bringing the team’s record to an impressive 11-2 overall and 3-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Flagg had an efficient shooting game, going 9-for-14 from the field, which included two successful three-pointers. Notably, he managed to contribute with six assists and capped his scoring off with a dynamic dunk following an inbounds play, although he scored only once during the final ten minutes of the contest.

Virginia Tech, now standing at 5-8 and 0-2 in the conference, saw Toby Lawal shine in the second half, scoring 15 of his 19 points during that period. Patrick Wessler added a solid 10 points off the bench for the Hokies, who faced the difficulties of their first true road game. Virginia Tech’s last victory at Duke dates back nearly 18 years.

Throughout the game, Virginia Tech remained competitive, narrowing the gap to 49-40 before Duke responded quickly with consecutive three-pointers from Proctor and Evans, expanding their lead.

In terms of noteworthy points, Virginia Tech had Jaden Schutt, a transfer from Duke, in the starting lineup, with Proctor as the only teammate from his previous team in Duke’s starting five. Schutt managed to make an early three-pointer, briefly giving Virginia Tech a lead, though it ended up being the only points he scored.

Duke’s win continues a remarkable trend, as this victory marked the 18th consecutive season in which they have successfully clinched their ACC home opener. A critical moment in the game illustrated Flagg’s resilience; despite picking up two fouls within the opening seven minutes, he recovered from a brief bench stint to ignite an impressive 17-2 run for his team.

A pivotal factor in Duke’s win came from their dominance in second-chance points, where they outscored Virginia Tech 15-2 in the first half, leading to a comfortable 37-27 advantage by halftime.

Looking ahead, Duke is set to travel to SMU for their next matchup on Saturday, while Virginia Tech will return home to face Miami.