RALEIGH — Top-seeded Duke men’s basketball begins its NCAA Tournament with a first-round game against Mount St. Mary’s. The Blue Devils are currently leading convincingly, 54-28:
Flagg Makes a Strong Comeback
On Thursday, head coach Jon Scheyer confirmed that freshman All-American Cooper Flagg would be ready to play against Mount St. Mary’s on Friday. Flagg had previously sustained an ankle injury requiring an X-ray during the ACC Tournament quarterfinal on March 13, raising concerns about his playing time and performance.
However, those worries were quickly dispelled on Friday. The Newport, Maine native started the game and made his presence felt immediately, slicing through the Mountaineer defense to set up a Khaman Maluach alley-oop with his left hand. He further impressed with a tough and-one score following a steal by Tyrese Proctor before being substituted by Mason Gillis for the under-16 media timeout. Flagg silenced any doubts about his condition with a powerful two-handed slam following a spin move, landing confidently without any signs of injury.
Duke’s Dominating 3-Point Shooting
Unlike Mount St. Mary’s, which struggled with its perimeter shooting, Duke excelled in the first half, hitting three-pointers as effectively as they had all season. Proctor, competing in his third NCAA Tournament, sank his first two deep shots, with Caleb Foster following up with another. Within just five and a half minutes, the Blue Devils established an 18-4 lead, significantly diminishing any hopes of an upset.
Even with Duke threatening to surpass its all-time NCAA Tournament single-game scoring record of 105, achieved against Southern Illinois in March 1993, the Mountaineers started to find some success beyond the arc, including three consecutive three-pointers from Arlandus Keyes, which made the score more respectable. Duke quickly responded, with a Maluach three-pointer that ignited the crowd, followed by a dunk that left the backboard shaking.
Exploiting Foul Opportunities
The Blue Devils showcased their ability to penetrate Mountaineer’s defense, drawing fouls to reach the basket. Flagg’s and-one was an early example, followed by clever plays like Gillis’s pump-fake that drew a foul after he received a pass from Knueppel. As the first half progressed, players such as Sion James, Proctor, and Foster continued to make their way to the free-throw line, pushing the Mountaineers deeper into foul trouble while expanding Duke’s lead to as much as 26 points.
Ball Movement and Efficiency
In addition to their stellar shooting and foul-drawing capabilities, Duke excelled in ball movement during the first half, accumulating 13 assists with only one turnover by halftime. The Blue Devils dominated Mount St. Mary’s in transition, scoring nine points off turnovers and an additional seven on fast breaks. When forced into longer offensive sequences, Duke effectively sliced through the Mountaineer defense, frequently finding open shots on the perimeter due to their fast, fluid passing around the arc. Both Kon Knueppel and Foster capitalized on these quick looks from the corners amidst a brief flurry of misses.
Player of the Half: Tyrese Proctor
In the first half, the most impactful player for the Blue Devils was clearly their Australian guard, Tyrese Proctor. He achieved 100% shooting from beyond the arc with four successful three-pointers and assisted on five Duke scores, both game-highs. Proctor excelled in transition, facilitating numerous fast-break layups for Flagg, all while applying tight defense against the Mountaineer guards with his 6-foot-6 frame. Thanks to the commanding lead built by Proctor, it’s likely he and the rest of the starting lineup will rest for much of the second half, preparing for their anticipated upcoming match against Baylor.
