The Duke basketball group was an enormous favourite at house on Monday evening as they hosted NC State, however they ended up getting a very good battle from the Wolfpack. NC State got here out of the gates robust they usually had been capable of get out to a 13-point lead within the first half. Happily for Duke, a powerful near the half put them into a greater spot going into the locker room, and an enormous recreation from Cooper Flagg helped them escape with a 74-64 win.
Cooper Flagg resides as much as the hype to this point this season, and performances just like the one he had in opposition to NC State are why. Flagg completed the sport with 28 factors on 8-17 capturing and he was 1-4 from deep. He additionally added seven rebounds and three assists. He carried the Blue Devils on this one.
The turning level on this recreation for the Duke basketball group was the best way the near the primary half. The Blue Devils had been trailing 35-22, however they completed issues out on an 11-2 run to make it 37-33 on the break.
‘”Clearly that was a hard-fought recreation,” Duke head coach Jon Scheyer stated after the sport, in keeping with a submit from Blue Satan Nation. “Credit score to State with the best way they got here out. You realize, that they had a pop to ’em. They shot the ball extremely nicely. I feel for us, simply understanding the psychological preparation, we could not do something bodily yesterday, and so I believed we weren’t prepared for the sport that it was going to be. And that is on me. I’ve to arrange them higher and get them extra prepared. With that stated, I believed that stretch into the primary half, starting the second half, our protection.”
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Duke has been in that place earlier than, and tonight, Sion James and Cooper Flagg had been two of the gamers that stepped up essentially the most for the Blue Devils.
“And that is occurred to us a number of occasions, the place you are down otherwise you want a spark,” Scheyer continued. “And what Sion James did there the top of the top of the primary half, clearly, Cooper [Flagg] had performed all through, however the protection, to me, you recognize, instructed the story. You realize, 27 second half factors, went zone once more. Did not anticipate that, however clearly that was an enormous factor for us once more tonight. And I am simply actually pleased with our group. I feel it is a particular effort. They’ve particular character, as a result of clearly we did not have our greatest stuff all through, however simply the best way we battled, that is all the time massive time.”
Flagg and Duke are having a particular 12 months as far as they’re at the moment 18-2 total and 10-0 in ACC convention play. The Blue Devils are heavy favorites to take house the convention crown because the ACC is having a down 12 months, however there are a pair groups on their heals within the standings.