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For the second consecutive game, Duke avoided a major upset to stay perfect in conference play.
After surviving a scare against Wake Forest on Saturday, the No. 2 Blue Devils beat NC State 74-64 behind a late rally led by star freshman Cooper Flagg’s 23 second-half points. The Wolfpack led for much of the second half, but Duke had just enough to pick up its 14th consecutive win.
Flagg had a slow start with just five first-half points but found his rhythm in the second half to finish with 28 points and six boards. The 18-year-old once again showed why he’s likely on his way to being a lottery pick in this year’s NBA draft.
NCAA March Madness @MarchMadnessMBB
COOPER FLAGG LOOK OUT BELOW 😤
Blue Devils fight from 13 down to retake the lead❗️
(via @espn) pic.twitter.com/qWmp9fT0yq
After the monster second-half outing for Flagg, fans praised him for keeping the Blue Devils in the game and ultimately leading them to the win.
Duke faced a pair of early losses to Kentucky and Kansas, but has been perfect since then and is now rolling through conference play. While there’s still plenty of basketball to be played, a conference title seems well within reach for the Blue Devils in a relatively weak ACC.
Duke will look to make it 11-0 in conference play on Saturday as it faces rival North Carolina.
