### Flagg Leads No. 12 Duke to Victory Over No. 17 Arizona

In an impressive display of scoring and defense, Cooper Flagg propelled No. 12 Duke to a 69-55 road win against No. 17 Arizona at McKale Center on Friday night. Flagg, a 6-9 freshman, notched 24 points to help the Blue Devils secure an early lead and maintain it throughout the game.

Duke, now with a 4-1 record, showcased resilience following their previous loss to Kentucky, where they let a double-digit lead slip away. This time, they displayed composure, especially in the second half, with Flagg scoring 16 points as the Blue Devils stretched their lead to 13 points. Although Arizona managed to reduce the deficit to six points, they could not close the gap further.

Arizona, which averaged 94.3 points per game entering the contest, struggled offensively, shooting only 39.6% from the field. This included a mere 37% in the second half. The Wildcats have now dropped to a 2-2 record with this being their second consecutive loss.

Notably, Kon Knueppel contributed 13 points, being the only other Duke player to score in double figures. Despite his shooting struggles earlier in the game, Knueppel hit two crucial 3-pointers in the final minutes to stabilize Duke's lead. His first, with 5:17 remaining, pushed the lead to nine points, and his second, with 3:55 left on the clock, extended it to a comfortable 61-49.

Duke also dominated the boards, out-rebounding Arizona 43-30. Even with their tallest player, 7-2 Khaman Maluach, limited to just six first-half minutes due to foul trouble, Duke's team effort ensured a 22-14 rebounding edge at halftime. Knueppel and Maliq Brown led the Blue Devils with seven rebounds each, with crucial support from Sion James, who snagged six rebounds off the bench.

The Blue Devils' stringent half-court defense played a crucial role, causing significant scoring droughts for Arizona. The Wildcats experienced a 5:03 scoreless period in the first half and another of 4:02 early in the second half. During these stretches, Duke's defensive tactics, even with Maluach benched, kept Arizona at bay.

Caleb Love, a familiar adversary from his UNC days, was held to just eight points on 3-of-13 shooting, including a dismal 1-of-9 from beyond the arc. Duke's meticulous defense ensured that Love, who averaged 18 points per game last season for Arizona, was largely ineffective.

Overall, Duke's strategic execution and Flagg's remarkable performance in scoring and defense solidified the win, underscoring their potential this season.