Cooper Flagg set a remarkable ACC freshman record by scoring 42 points, leading No. 4 Duke to an 86-78 victory over Notre Dame on Saturday. This performance not only secured Duke’s unbeaten status in conference play but also showcased Flagg’s growing prowess on the court.
Khaman Maluach contributed significantly to the win, achieving a season-high of 19 points for Duke (14-2, 6-0), further solidifying their strong team dynamic.
On the other side, Markus Burton led the Fighting Irish (7-9, 1-4) with 23 points. Notre Dame displayed impressive shooting skills, hitting 14 of 23 three-point attempts, which kept them competitive right until the final buzzer.
Takeaways
The Irish faced a challenging start, falling into a 14-0 deficit and trailing by as many as 18 points in the second half. However, they managed to rally and brought the game within two possessions late in the contest.
Key moment
As the game tightened, Notre Dame closed the gap to 80-76 with a runner from Burton. Flagg responded decisively with two free throws, while Burton missed a subsequent drive. This pivotal moment allowed Maluach to seal the game with two more free throws, extending Duke’s lead back to two possessions with just 15.8 seconds remaining.
Key stat
Flagg’s shooting has significantly improved, making 12 of 22 three-pointers over his last six games, a stark contrast to his earlier performance where he only managed 8 of 36 in his first ten college games.
Up next
Looking ahead, Notre Dame will host Boston College on Monday, while Duke will conclude a three-game homestand against Miami on Tuesday.
