Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball Overcomes Cold Start on Senior Night

The Duke basketball squad found its rhythm after scoring only two points in the first five-plus minutes against Wake Forest.
Matt Giles|
Duke basketball
Duke basketball | Zachary Taft-Imagn Images

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Duke Blue Devils

Five minutes into Monday night's Duke basketball home game versus the Wake Forest Demon Deacons (20- 9, 12-6 ACC) in Cameron Indoor Stadium, the teams were knotted up at 2-2, on pace for a 16-16 tie in regulation.

ALSO READ: Veteran Duke Guard Returns From Injury Versus Deacons

The low scoring wasn't all that surprising given the Blue Devils (26-3, 17-1 ACC) posted season-low 63 points in their seven-point win at Wake Forest in late January.

But both sides finally heated up a bit across the next five minutes of action. And Duke ramped up its intensity on the defensive end in the final 10 minutes of the first half en route to securing a 40-27 lead heading into the locker room.

Cooper Flagg enjoyed a team-high 10 points in the first half, adding four rebounds, three assists, one steal, and two blocks. Fellow Duke freshman guard/forward added nine points. Graduate transfer guard Sion James, celebrating his Senior Night as a Blue Devil in the team's home finale, tallied eight points, shooting 2-for-4 from deep.

Duke basketball has one regular season outing left following the bout against Wake Forest. The Blue Devils travel less than 10 miles down Tobacco Road to face the archrival UNC Tar Heels at 6:30 p.m. ET Saturday (ESPN).

ALSO READ: Duke's Jon Scheyer Looks to Break UNC Coach's Record

Stay tuned to Duke Blue Devils On SI for more Duke basketball news.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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