By ADAM ZAGORIA
In a game that featured Khaman Maluach losing his lunch on the court and Kon Knueppel utilizing a quirky play to keep his teammate inbounds, Cooper Flagg once again dominated in the second half as No. 2 Duke won its 14th straight game.
The 6-foot-9 Flagg, the presumed No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft, went for 28 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists as Duke overcome a 4-point halftime deficit to prevail, 74-64, over NC State at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Earlier Monday, Flagg was named ACC Rookie of the Week for the 8th time this season.
Knueppel went for 19 and 6 rebounds while pulling off a play rarely, if ever, seen on the hardwood. With Duke leading 65-62 and teammate Tyrese Proctor balancing on one leg while trying to corral a loose ball and stay in bounds, Knueppel grabbed Proctor’s other leg to hold him up and keep him inbounds.
“There are high-basketball IQ plays, and then there ‘s next level,” the announcer said. “That was next level by Kon Knueppel.”
Never seen this before in a hoops game as Duke’s Kon Knueppel pulls Tyrese Proctor’s leg to keep him in bounds pic.twitter.com/wbg6VJcdv2
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) January 28, 2025
Also in the second half, Maluach, Duke’s 7-2 freshman big man, lost his lunch on the court and managers and staff had to break out a number of towels to clean it up.
VOMIT WARNING: Khaman Maluach loses his lunch in the clutch. Hope the big guy is okay! pic.twitter.com/na117o0PN2
— Dray Mottishaw (@draymottishaw) January 28, 2025
Sion James also went for 13 in the win.
Duke hasn’t lost since Nov. 26 and their two losses to Kentucky and Kansas were by a combined eight points — and came before Flagg turned into a monster and the favorite for National Player of the Year.
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