Copper Flagg Sends Strong Message to NC State, Drops 28 Points to Power No. 2 Duke Past Wolfpack
RALEIGH, N.C. — Copper Flagg delivered a statement performance Tuesday night, lighting up NC State with 28 points to lead No. 2 Duke to a commanding 82-69 victory at PNC Arena. The sophomore sensation left no doubt as to who the star of the night was, dominating on both ends of the floor and asserting Duke’s place atop the ACC standings.
Flagg’s impressive night included 11-of-16 shooting from the field, 4-of-6 from beyond the arc, and 7 rebounds. The guard also added 4 assists and 2 steals, showcasing his all-around game in one of his best performances of the season.
“This was personal,” Flagg said postgame. “NC State’s a tough team, but we came here to prove a point. We’re not just No. 2 in the rankings — we’re the best team in the country. Nights like this show what we’re capable of.”
Flagg’s heroics set the tone for a Duke squad that remains undefeated in ACC play (8-0) and now boasts an 18-1 overall record. Veteran forward Mark Mitchell added 15 points and 9 rebounds, while Jaylen Blake provided a spark off the bench with 12 points.
The Wolfpack (12-8, 4-4 ACC) struggled to contain Flagg and fell behind early. Despite 18 points from Jarkel Joiner and 13 from Terquavion Smith, NC State couldn’t find an answer for Duke’s relentless attack.
“We knew Flagg was good, but he just took over,” NC State head coach Kevin Keatts admitted. “When a player gets that hot, it’s tough to slow them down. We’ve got to be better defensively moving forward.”
After NC State pulled within five early in the second half, Flagg single-handedly shut down their momentum. Back-to-back three-pointers from the sophomore kicked off a decisive 12-2 run that silenced the home crowd and put the game out of reach.
Duke head coach Jon Scheyer praised his star guard’s leadership and poise.
“Copper has that killer instinct,” Scheyer said. “When the game’s on the line, he steps up. He played with confidence, made the right reads, and delivered when we needed him most.”
As Duke looks ahead to a home matchup against Louisville on Saturday, Flagg and the Blue Devils remain laser-focused on their ultimate goal: a national championship.
“This is just one game,” Flagg said. “We’ve got bigger things to accomplish. But we’re sending a message every time we step on the court: Duke is here, and we’re not slowing down.”
NC State, meanwhile, will aim to regroup as they face a tough road test against Virginia Tech, needing a win to keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive.
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