DALLAS — In a commanding performance, Duke’s freshman sensation Cooper Flagg scored 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, leading the fourth-ranked Blue Devils to an impressive 89-62 victory over SMU, a newcomer to the Atlantic Coast Conference. The game took place on Saturday, while Duke’s head coach Jon Scheyer was absent due to illness, marking the first time in three seasons he missed a game. Associate head coach Chris Carrawell stepped in as the acting coach for this matchup.
Duke established its dominance early, with Tyrese Proctor and Kon Knueppel contributing 14 points each, helping the team stretch their winning streak to eight games. On the other hand, SMU’s Boopie Miller delivered a strong performance, scoring 21 points for the Mustangs, whose own seven-game winning streak was halted. Additionally, Samet Yigitoglu, a 7-foot-2 freshman from Istanbul, registered 10 points and 13 rebounds, while Matt Cross added 11 points to the scoreboard.
Heading into the game, Duke boasted the best scoring defense in the league and effectively stifled the ACC’s top-scoring offense, which was averaging over 87 points per game under first-year head coach Andy Enfield. However, SMU struggled offensively, shooting only 34% from the field with a total of 23 baskets out of 67 attempts. Their only lead in the game was briefly at 3-2 when Cross hit a three-pointer with the Mustangs’ opening shot.
Key moments during the game highlighted Duke’s resilience, particularly when SMU attempted to make a comeback. After the Mustangs narrowed the gap after a 10-point deficit, Flagg responded with a jumper and a three-pointer, reestablishing control of the game. This matchup marked Duke’s first visit to Texas since a loss against N.C. State in an Elite Eight game played at an arena just five miles away from their current venue.
Despite a sellout crowd at Moody Coliseum, the Mustangs were unable to generate the necessary energy for a significant upset as students were still away on winter break. A pivotal moment occurred just after halftime when Cross’s jumper brought SMU within 41-34, but Flagg erupted for nine points within three minutes, fueling a 13-3 run that solidified Duke’s advantage.
In terms of performance metrics, Duke outscored SMU 42-24 in the paint and showcased their perimeter shooting prowess with 11 three-pointers compared to the Mustangs’ five. Looking ahead, Duke is set to host Pittsburgh on Tuesday night, while SMU will face off against North Carolina on the same evening.
