In Charlotte, North Carolina, Kon Knueppel’s impressive 28-point performance steered No.1 Duke to a victory over Georgia Tech, with a score of 78-70 during Thursday’s game. This win propels Duke into the ACC Tournament semifinals. Despite injuries to key players Cooper Flagg and Maliq Brown, Duke demonstrated resilience.
Isaiah Evans contributed significantly with 14 points, sinking four 3-point shots, while Khaman Maluach supported with 14 points and nine rebounds. Duke, currently holding a 29-3 record, is riding high on a nine-game winning streak.
The game took a concerning turn when Flagg sustained an injury after awkwardly coming down on Baye Ndongo’s foot when vying for a rebound late in the first half. As the ACC player of the year exited to the bench in frustration before heading to the locker room, hopes were temporarily dampened. Nonetheless, Flagg returned to watch the game from the bench in the second half, though he did not make it back onto the court. Brown also suffered from a shoulder injury during the first half.
For Georgia Tech, Duncan Powell stood out with his 24-point contribution. Despite their strong start, Duke initially struggled, missing their first 13 consecutive shots from beyond the arc and falling behind 26-12. This marked their largest deficit of the season. However, with Flagg’s departure, the team narrowed the gap to just five points by halftime. Early in the second half, Duke seized the momentum as Tyrese Proctor intercepted a pass and delivered an electrifying dunk, extending Duke’s lead.
Analyzing the key elements of the game, Georgia Tech’s bench was outperformed and outscored 21-6. Nevertheless, Duke demonstrated offensive depth, managing to excel even without Flagg and Brown on the court. After their cold start, Duke figured out their rhythm, making 7 out of their subsequent 17 attempts from the 3-point range.
A pivotal moment arose when Knueppel executed a drive, converting a crucial 3-point play with about five minutes remaining, effectively extending Duke’s lead to 11 points. This sequence turned the tide decisively in Duke’s favor.
While Georgia Tech can now only hold out for an invitation to the NIT, Duke sets its sights forward to face off against North Carolina, who triumphed over Wake Forest with a score of 68-59, in the upcoming semifinals.
