Cooper Flagg Shines in Duke’s Dominant Win Over North Carolina

DURHAM, N.C. — In his first taste of the storied Duke–North Carolina rivalry, freshman Cooper Flagg delivered arguably the most complete performance of his young career, leading the Blue Devils to a commanding victory Saturday night at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Flagg scored or assisted on each of Duke’s first six baskets, setting the tone for a dominant 93-76 win. The 6-foot-9 forward finished with 21 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocked shots, showcasing his versatility and impact on both ends of the court.

“It might be [my best college game],” Flagg said after the game. “But for me, I’m just trying to make the right plays. Four of the first six baskets I assisted. That’s huge for me to find my teammates and make plays for them.”

Duke coach Jon Scheyer praised Flagg’s performance, calling him a basketball “savant.” However, Scheyer noted that even with Flagg’s impressive stat line, there was room for improvement. “He almost had a triple-double, and he wasn’t quite himself [at the end],” Scheyer said. “But besides that segment, he was just in control the entire game.”

Flagg’s ability to involve his teammates was a key factor in the win. Fellow freshman Kon Knueppel added 22 points and 5 assists, marking the first time in 15 years that two Duke players recorded at least 20 points and 5 assists in the rivalry. The last duo to achieve this feat was Scheyer and Nolan Smith in 2009.

Despite the lopsided victory, Flagg expressed frustration with his late-game performance, as North Carolina cut Duke’s 32-point lead to 16 in the final minutes. “It was a little bit of me being tired and making some dumb mistakes at the end,” Flagg admitted. “Being soft at the end kind of played into that.”

The win marked a significant moment for Flagg, who had watched last year’s game from behind the Duke bench as a recruit. He recalled the Tar Heels’ taunts and celebrations after their 84-79 victory, which added extra motivation for this year’s matchup. “You could definitely feel a different energy tonight,” Flagg said. “For us, it’s just another game. We came out and executed our game plan, did what we were trying to do, and came out with the win.”

Duke’s victory improved their record to 18-5 on the season, keeping them in contention for a high seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament. With Flagg and Knueppel leading the way, the Blue Devils are poised to make a deep postseason run.