WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — In an exciting matchup on Saturday, second-ranked Duke managed to overcome Wake Forest, securing a 63-56 victory. Star freshman Cooper Flagg made a significant contribution with 24 points, seven rebounds, and six assists.

Freshman Kon Knueppel also played a crucial role, scoring 15 points for the Blue Devils, who now hold a record of 17 wins and 2 losses, with 9 victories and no defeats in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Duke struggled initially in the second half, missing their first 13 shots and only managing to hit 1 out of 19 attempts within the first 12 minutes after the break. This allowed Wake Forest to close a 15-point deficit from the first half and take the lead at 45-39, thanks to a basket from Juke Harris with just under 10 minutes to go.

In response, Duke went on a scoring spree, securing seven consecutive possessions to regain control, with Flagg extending the lead to 53-47 after hitting two free throws with just over three minutes left on the clock. Wake Forest’s Juke Harris led the charge for the Demon Deacons with 14 points, supported by an enthusiastic home crowd that had hoped to celebrate another upset against Duke, similar to last year. However, this time they were unable to capitalize on Duke’s struggles.

Noteworthy observations from the game include Duke’s resilience, as they’d previously not faced a game closer than 11 points during their ACC schedule but handled this tough matchup well. In contrast, Wake Forest had experienced a six-game winning streak but fell short of enhancing their NCAA Tournament credentials.

A pivotal moment in the game saw Flagg make a crucial jumper, followed by Knueppel scoring in the paint, and Mason Gillis hitting a three-pointer after a pick-and-pop play. Flagg’s dynamic moves continued, including a spin finish and a powerful two-handed dunk after beating Tre’Von Spillers off the dribble, marking Duke’s aggressive comeback.

An interesting statistic emerged with Tyrese Proctor, who had a rough shooting performance earlier, going 1 for 11 from the field and missing all six of his three-point attempts. However, he made a critical three-pointer with the shot clock winding down, pushing Duke ahead 56-49 with just 2:18 remaining in the game.

Looking ahead, Wake Forest will be traveling to face No. 25 Louisville on Tuesday, while Duke will be preparing to host N.C. State on Monday.