DURHAM, N.C. — In a thrilling matchup of the storied rivalry, Cooper Flagg made a significant impact in his debut for Duke against North Carolina, contributing 21 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists. The second-ranked Blue Devils defeated the Tar Heels 87-70, marking another remarkable win for Duke, who are now on a 15-game winning streak.

Duke showcased its offensive prowess with fellow freshman Kon Knueppel leading the score with 22 points. The team shot an impressive 52.8% overall and capitalized on three-pointers, making 10 out of 20 attempts. With this victory, Duke improves its season record to 19-2 and remains unbeaten in the Atlantic Coast Conference at 11-0.

For North Carolina, RJ Davis and Drake Powell were the top scorers with 12 points each. However, the Tar Heels struggled throughout the game, falling behind 40-13 at one point and experiencing a deficit as large as 32 points. North Carolina’s recent form has been concerning, with the team now losing four out of five games. Their only win during this stretch came in an overtime thriller against Boston College, a team that had only one conference victory at that time.

One pivotal moment in the game came when Duke launched a decisive 16-0 run, which effectively put the game out of reach early on. Tyrese Proctor initiated the attack with a well-placed three-pointer after Flagg’s smart pass out of a double team. Shortly thereafter, Proctor added to the momentum with a dunk following a UNC turnover. Flagg continued to be a key player, knocking down a quick three-pointer that prompted a timeout from the Tar Heels. After the break, Flagg scored again with a transition basket, emphasizing Duke’s dominance. By the time Knueppel drove to score in the paint, Duke had opened up a commanding 23-6 lead.

A striking statistic from the game illustrates North Carolina’s struggles; the team recorded more turnovers (nine) than field goals in the first half, shooting only 29.6% by making just 8 of 27 attempts. Duke capitalized on this, scoring 11 points off the turnovers.

Looking ahead, Duke is set to travel to Syracuse for their next matchup on Wednesday night. Meanwhile, North Carolina will host Pittsburgh on Saturday, a game that holds potential significance for their NCAA Tournament aspirations.