Cooper Flagg electrified Madison Square Garden with 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists in his debut at the iconic arena, leading No. 3 Duke to a commanding 110-67 rout of Illinois on Saturday. The Blue Devils showcased their offensive firepower with seven players scoring double figures, including 17 points from Isaiah Evans off the bench.
Duke’s NCAA Tournament momentum surged as they built a 23-point halftime lead, holding Illinois to a dismal 2-for-26 performance from three-point range. Our defense set the tone early, said analysts post-game, highlighting Duke’s ability to thrive despite defensive anchor Maliq Brown’s recent shoulder injury.
Key moments:
- Flagg’s back-to-back dunks ignited the sold-out crowd of 19,812
- Illinois’ 17 consecutive missed three-pointers in the first half
- Duke’s season-high scoring performance
The Fighting Illini’s struggles continue with three straight double-digit losses to top-ranked opponents. Forward Morez Johnson Jr.’s absence due to injury has compounded their defensive woes. Meanwhile, Duke strengthens its case for a No. 1 tournament seed with this statement victory.
Both teams face critical conference matchups next week. Illinois hosts Iowa in a pivotal Big Ten clash, while Duke travels to Miami seeking to maintain its ACC dominance.
