Cooper Flagg Shines as Duke Beats UNC in Rivalry Game

Cooper Flagg dominated with 21 points as No. 2 Duke defeated North Carolina 87-70. Duke extends its winning streak to 15 games.

Cooper Flagg Shines as Duke Beats UNC in Rivalry Game

Cooper Flagg made a big impact in his first UNC-Duke rivalry game on Saturday night.

The future NBA star scored 21 points as No. 2 Duke easily defeated North Carolina 87-70 at home.

Freshman teammate Kon Knueppel led the team with 22 points, helping Duke win its 15th straight game.

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Cooper Flagg Shines as Duke Beats UNC in Rivalry Game
Cooper Flagg Shines as Duke Beats UNC in Rivalry Game

Flagg Starts Fast

Flagg made a strong start, scoring nine points in the first five minutes. His early play helped Duke build a big 22-point lead in the first half. UNC defenders had no answer for him all night.

He finished with:

  • 21 points (6-for-14 shooting, 3-for-5 from three)
  • 8 rebounds
  • 7 assists
  • 3 steals
  • 2 blocks

Many fans now believe Flagg should be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

Flagg, who turned 18 in December, could be the second-youngest college player ever drafted, according to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony.

Duke Stays on Top

RJ Davis and Drake Powell both scored 12 points for UNC, but the Tar Heels fell to 13-10 (6-5 in the ACC).

Duke improved to 19-2 (10-0 in the ACC) and remains No. 2 in the AP rankings, behind Auburn.

Auburn faces tough games against No. 5 Florida and No. 4 Alabama in the next two weeks. If they lose again, Duke could take the No. 1 spot before March Madness.

What’s Next?

Duke plays Syracuse on Wednesday in an away game. Before Flagg enters the NBA Draft, he and Knueppel will try to lead Duke on a deep NCAA Tournament run.

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