With a strong comeback in the second half against NC State, the Duke Blue Devils won their 14th consecutive game and improved to 10-0 in ACC play.
This season, Duke fell behind at halftime for the first time at home. At the half, the Wolfpack led 37–33 thanks to a solid shooting effort. Additionally, NC State limited Duke star Cooper Flagg to just five points during the first half.
With 28 points at the end of the game, Flagg really came alive in the second half. But the Wolfpack simply hung around in spite of Flagg’s offensive comeback in the second.
Dontrez Styles of NC State scored 18 points, including four 3-pointers, to lead the visitors. Trey Parker, a rookie, went 6-9 and made three 3-pointers while playing nicely off the bench.
After falling behind 13 points in the first half, Duke came back to take the lead in the second. With 4:40 remaining in regulation, the Wolfpack narrowly reduced the Duke lead to one point, but Flagg and the Blue Devils maintained their pressure and pulled away late to complete a fiercely contested victory.
When Clemson visits town on Saturday, NC State will try to recover. In the meantime, the first leg of the renowned Tobacco Road Rivalry pits Duke against fierce foe North Carolina.
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