Flagg Shines as Duke Beats Arizona 100–93 in Thriller/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Cooper Flagg delivered a dominant 30-point performance to lead top-seeded Duke past Arizona 100–93 in the Sweet 16. Duke held off a fierce second-half rally led by Caleb Love to advance to the Elite Eight. The Blue Devils will face Alabama next for a spot in the Final Four.
Duke Outlasts Arizona Behind Cooper Flagg’s Breakout Performance:
Quick Looks
- Cooper Flagg posts 30 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds
- Duke edges Arizona 100–93 to reach Elite Eight
- Caleb Love scores 35 in final college game
- Blue Devils face Alabama next in East Region final
- Duke shoots 60% from the field, 58% from three
- Arizona rallies from 19-point deficit but falls short
- Flagg seals win with clutch free throws, key blocks
- Duke eyes 18th Final Four appearance
Flagg Shines as Duke Beats Arizona 100–93 in Thriller
Deep Look
Duke freshman sensation Cooper Flagg lived up to the hype and more on Thursday night, pouring in 30 points and delivering a highlight-filled performance to lift the Blue Devils past Arizona, 100–93, in a high-scoring NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 battle in Newark.
Flagg’s electric showing included a deep 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer, two no-look assists — one for a dunk, the other for a 3-pointer — and a game-saving block that landed among Arizona’s cheerleaders. The performance not only propelled Duke (34–3) into the Elite Eight, but also solidified Flagg’s status as the top prospect in college basketball.
“That’s one of the best tournament performances I’ve ever coached or been a part of,” said Duke head coach Jon Scheyer.
Flagg was unguardable all night, even as Arizona focused its defense on the 6-foot-9 freshman. He shot efficiently, made plays for teammates, and anchored Duke’s defense during key stretches of the second half.
Arizona’s Caleb Love, a longtime Duke rival from his North Carolina days, was nearly the story himself. He scored 35 points, one shy of a career-high, and led a furious second-half rally that cut a 19-point Duke lead to just five with under two minutes to go. But Duke made 9 of 10 free throws in the final stretch to hold on.
Flagg Takes Over the Stage
Flagg’s night was packed with moments that showcased his versatility and competitive fire:
- Halftime buzzer-beater: After rebounding a missed 3-pointer by Love, Duke raced downcourt, found Flagg near the logo, and he buried a 3 to give Duke a 48–42 halftime edge. He shouted “Let’s go, man!” as he ran into the tunnel.
- No-look magic: Flagg delivered a no-look dime to Sion James for a 3-pointer and another to Khaman Maluach for an alley-oop slam, igniting the crowd and his team during a second-half surge.
- Game-sealing block: With Arizona threatening to cut the lead to single digits again late, Flagg swatted KJ Lewis’ shot into the cheer section, halting Arizona’s momentum.
“He was loose, competitive, talking — just fully himself tonight,” Scheyer said. “That’s all we’ve wanted from him.”
A Final Chapter for Caleb Love
Love, the fourth-seeded Wildcats’ leading scorer and a familiar foe to Duke, capped off his college career with a gutsy effort. He missed his first three shots but caught fire in the second half, including a stretch where he scored 15 straight points.
“He’s had an amazing career,” said Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd. “I’m so excited for his future. He gave everything tonight.”
Love, who famously ended Coach K’s career in the 2022 Final Four, added seven more points than in that game but couldn’t produce a similar result against Flagg and company.
Jaden Bradley added 15 points for Arizona (24–13), which fell short of recreating its 2011 upset over top-seeded Duke.
What’s Next for Duke
Duke now prepares for a marquee 1-vs.-2 showdown with Alabama on Saturday. The Crimson Tide advanced earlier in the evening by setting a March Madness record with 19 three-pointers in a 113–88 rout of BYU.
A win would send Duke to its 18th Final Four — its first since 2022 and first under head coach Jon Scheyer.
Brown Returns, Peat Commits to Arizona
Duke junior forward Maliq Brown returned to action for the first time in two weeks after recovering from a shoulder injury. Wearing a compression sleeve, he logged four minutes, recording one rebound and one assist.
Off the court, Arizona scored a recruiting victory earlier Thursday when five-star forward Koa Peat announced on The Pat McAfee Show that he would commit to the Wildcats. Peat is expected to join fellow top recruit Bryce James — son of NBA legend LeBron James — in Tucson next season.
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