DURHAM, N.C.— In what could be his final performance on home turf, freshman phenom Cooper Flagg delivered an impressive 28 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists to propel No. 2 Duke to a dominant 93-60 victory over Wake Forest on Monday night. This win secured at least a share of the Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season crown for the Blue Devils.
Joining Flagg in the spotlight was fellow freshman Kon Knueppel, contributing 17 points to help the Blue Devils (27-3, 18-1) maintain a 13-point lead at halftime before decisively extending their advantage in the second half.
Flagg, who stands at 6-foot-9 and is projected as a potential top pick in the NBA draft, exited the game with just over three minutes left on the clock. He shared a celebratory moment with coach Jon Scheyer, exchanging high-fives and hugs, while the exuberant Duke supporters, known as “Cameron Crazies,” chanted “One more year! One more year!”
For the Wake Forest Demon Deacons (20-10, 12-7), Efton Reid III and Ty-Laur Johnson each managed to score 14 points but couldn’t stave off their team’s defeat.
Key Takeaways:
Wake Forest: The Demon Deacons have seen their hopes for an NCAA tournament bid wane with recent losses to unranked teams, including two home defeats. A victory in this game would have bolstered their chances with a key win, but instead, they were met with chants of “NIT! NIT!” from the Duke fans, indicating a possible appearance in the National Invitation Tournament.
Duke: With this victory, the Blue Devils strengthened their position at the top of the ACC, moving closer to clinching the regular-season title outright. They now hold a lead over No. 11 Clemson and No. 14 Louisville in the standings.
Key Moment:
During a pivotal stretch, Duke led 47-38 before going on a decisive 18-3 run. This surge included three consecutive 3-pointers, starting with one from Sion James followed by two in quick succession by Mason Gillis, which expanded Duke’s lead to a commanding 65-41.
Key Statistic:
The Blue Devils capitalized on their shooting prowess in the second half, hitting 53.8% from the field and sinking 8 of 19 3-point attempts, culminating in a total of 14 successful 3-pointers throughout the game.
Looking Ahead:
Both teams are set to conclude their regular-season campaigns on Saturday. Wake Forest is slated to host Georgia Tech, while Duke will head to face their traditional rivals, North Carolina.
