In a thrilling matchup, the No. 2 Duke Blue Devils managed to secure a hard-fought 74-64 victory over North Carolina State on Monday night. The star freshman, Cooper Flagg, was the standout performer of the game, scoring 28 points, with 23 of those coming in the second half.
Joining Flagg in the scoring effort was fellow rookie Kon Knueppel, who contributed 19 points to Duke's winning cause. The Blue Devils, who are now 18-2 overall and undefeated in the Atlantic Coast Conference at 10-0, extended their winning streak to an impressive 14 games.
Despite a valiant effort from the Wolfpack, who held a 13-point lead in the first half, Duke managed to stay in control throughout the game. N.C. State's Dontrez Styles put up a strong performance with 18 points, but the team struggled with shooting efficiency in the second half, finishing at just 32%.
This game marked a rematch of last year's NCAA Tournament Elite Eight clash, where the Wolfpack emerged victorious during their remarkable Final Four run. The contest was not without its dramatic moments, including on-court health concerns that led to brief stoppages in the final minutes.
Key Takeaways
For N.C. State, the close loss to Duke highlighted their competitive spirit and ability to challenge a top-ranked opponent. On the other hand, Duke faced a tough test following their narrow win against Wake Forest in the previous game.
Key Moment and Stat
A pivotal moment in the game came when Duke went on a 19-0 scoring run spanning halftime, erasing the deficit they faced in the first half. Additionally, N.C. State's leading scorer, Marcus Hill, struggled with just four points on 1-for-10 shooting.
Upcoming Games
Looking ahead, both teams have important matchups scheduled for Saturday. N.C. State will host Clemson, while Duke will face off against their archrivals, North Carolina.
For more college basketball updates and news, stay tuned to the AP Top 25 rankings throughout the season.
Sources: AP college basketball and college basketball
