Elevate your local knowledge

Sign up for the iNFOnews newsletter today!

Select Region

Cooper Flagg and No. 4 Duke push past Pittsburgh 76-47 to stay unbeaten in ACC

Cooper Flagg and No. 4 Duke push past Pittsburgh 76-47 to stay unbeaten in ACC | iNFOnews.ca
Duke's Cooper Flagg, right, dunks over Pittsburgh's Guillermo Diaz Graham (25) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Durham, N.C., Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
Original Publication Date: January 7, 2025 6:36PM
Publication Updated: April 11, 2025 1:13AM

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Star freshman Cooper Flagg scored 14 of his 19 points after halftime — including a jaw-dropper of a coast-to-coast dunk — to help No. 4 Duke beat Pittsburgh 76-47 on Tuesday night.

Fellow rookie Kon Knueppel had 17 points and made four 3-pointers for the Blue Devils (13-2, 5-0 Atlantic Coast Conference), who won a matchup of unbeaten league teams behind another strong defensive effort.

Cameron Corhen scored 11 points to lead the Panthers (12-3, 3-1), who shot 31% and went the last eight minutes without a point.

Takeaways

Pittsburgh: The Panthers had won five straight since a blowout loss at Mississippi State in the ACC/SEC Challenge on Dec. 4, but they trailed 34-24 at halftime and never got within single digits after the break.

Cooper Flagg and No. 4 Duke push past Pittsburgh 76-47 to stay unbeaten in ACC | iNFOnews.ca
Duke’s Tyrese Proctor, left, and Pittsburgh’s Jaland Love (15) dive for a loose ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Durham, N.C., Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)

Duke: The Blue Devils have won nine straight, led by a defense that came into the night ranked third nationally by KenPom for allowing 87.4 points per 100 possessions. Duke scored the final 18 points.

Key moment

Duke led by 11 when Flagg, the 6-foot-9 preseason Associated Press All-American, stole an entry pass and got loose on the break.

He pushed past Jaland Lowe, then took off from the left edge of the paint, extending his right arm to stuff the ball through a foul by Guillermo Diaz Graham. That sent the “Cameron Crazies” into a roof-shaking roar. Flagg followed with the free throw and another off-the-dribble dunk on the ensuing possession.

Key stat

Cooper Flagg and No. 4 Duke push past Pittsburgh 76-47 to stay unbeaten in ACC | iNFOnews.ca
Duke’s Khaman Malauch reacts after a dunk during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Pittsburgh in Durham, N.C., Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)

Pitt guards Ishmael Leggett (17.8) and Jaland Lowe (17.4) had powered the offense all season but had a rough outing. Leggett scored four points on 2-for-15 shooting, while Lowe had eight on 3-for-12 shooting.

Up next

Pittsburgh: Hosts Louisville on Saturday.

Duke: Hosts Notre Dame on Saturday.

Cooper Flagg and No. 4 Duke push past Pittsburgh 76-47 to stay unbeaten in ACC | iNFOnews.ca
Pittsburgh’s Ishmael Leggett, left, drives against Duke’s Tyrese Proctor during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Durham, N.C., Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
Cooper Flagg and No. 4 Duke push past Pittsburgh 76-47 to stay unbeaten in ACC | iNFOnews.ca
Pittsburgh’s Jaland Love is fouled by Duke’s Cooper Flagg (2) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Durham, N.C., Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
Cooper Flagg and No. 4 Duke push past Pittsburgh 76-47 to stay unbeaten in ACC | iNFOnews.ca
Pittsburgh’s Brandin Cummings drives against Duke’s Tyrese Proctor (5) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Durham, N.C., Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
Cooper Flagg and No. 4 Duke push past Pittsburgh 76-47 to stay unbeaten in ACC | iNFOnews.ca
Duke head coach Jon Scheyer reacts to a call during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Pittsburgh in Durham, N.C., Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
Cooper Flagg and No. 4 Duke push past Pittsburgh 76-47 to stay unbeaten in ACC | iNFOnews.ca
Pittsburgh head coach Jeff Capel directs his team during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Duke in Durham, N.C., Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
Cooper Flagg and No. 4 Duke push past Pittsburgh 76-47 to stay unbeaten in ACC | iNFOnews.ca
Duke head coach Jon Scheyer reacts to a call during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Pittsburgh in Durham, N.C., Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)

___

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 all season. Sign up here. AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

Create a free account

The Associated Press

Aaron Beard

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.

Related Articles