Thanks to yet another efficient game from freshman superstar Cooper Flagg, Duke halted SMU’s seven-game win streak on Saturday afternoon.
For a minute, it looked like the Blue Devils missed a chance at some easy points in the first half against SMU.
Maliq Brown managed to split two defenders with a perfect bounce pass to Sion James on the baseline, and the former Tulane guard went up and under for a reverse layup. His shot went too far up the glass, however, bouncing harmlessly off the rim and toward the Mustangs’ defense rather than finding its target.
Enter [autotag]Cooper Flagg[/autotag].
The freshman superstar flew in from the perimeter and got both hands on the ball, throwing it back through the basket and hanging on the iron for a beat before dropping back to the court.
Flagg’s 24 points helped the Blue Devils (12-2, 4-0) win their eighth straight game in Texas on Saturday afternoon, halting a red-hot SMU (11-3, 2-1) squad for a 89-62 victory.
Duke didn’t lose once in December, but with head coach Jon Scheyer unable to make the trip due to an illness and the Mustangs riding a seven-game win streak of their own with the ACC’s top offense, fans around the conference crossed their fingers to see if a challenger could emerge.
Flagg averaged 16.3 points through his first 12 collegiate games, but if any part of the top-ranked freshman’s game created concern, it was his shooting efficiency. Despite his size and athleticism, the 6-foot-9 forward made just 42.1% of his shots and 25.0% of his 3-point looks before the holiday break.
The presumed No. 1 overall draft pick put forth his most surgical effort yet on New Year’s Eve against Virginia Tech, making nine of his 14 looks for 24 points against the Hokies, and he picked up right where he left off against the Mustangs.
Flagg earned four trips to the free-throw line and connected on a mid-range jumper in the first five minutes against SMU, a quick six points that helped the Blue Devils race out to a 17-7 lead. The first-year star found his mark on four of his eight first-half shots, including that aforementioend putback dunk and his lone 3-point effort, to tally 15 points.
Duke led 41-32 as both teams returned to the locker room, and unlike some other stellar outings this season, Flagg kept his foot on the pedal after the break. He drove to the glass twice in the first three minutes of the second half and rejected an effort from SMU center Samet Yigitoglu to spark another quick run.
The Blue Devils rattled off a 16-6 stretch in the first five minutes of the period, and a 3-pointer from fellow freshman Kon Knueppel gave them a 19-point lead with 15:16 left to play.
Flagg made seven of his 12 shots for the game, his second straight outing above 58% from the floor, and he’s now scored at least 20 in five of Duke’s last seven. His 11 rebounds also gave him a fifth double-double of the season.
James didn’t convert that fancy first-half layup, but the senior guard did notch eight assists as he constantly opened up opportunities around him. The former Green Wave star was known for his ability to drive to the basket at his old school, but he used that scouting report against SMU. James routinely dribbled his way into the paint before kicking the ball out to the perimeter, including one perfect dish to Purdue transfer Mason Gillis late in the opening half, and he only turned the ball over once.
The Duke defense also won the battle of the ACC’s best. SMU paced the conference with 87.2 points per game before Saturday, but the Blue Devils kept the home team to 34.3% from the field.
Only three of Duke’s 14 opponents have shot better than 40% so far this season, and the Blue Devils are allowing 59.2 points per game. After holding the vaunted Auburn Tigers offense to just 78 last month, Saturday’s win showed yet again that Flagg and his teammates can shut down great offenses.
The Blue Devils get the rest of the weekend to celebrate their win, but the work continues on Tuesday with a home game against the 11-2 Pittsburgh Panthers.
