Newark, N.J. — Duke’s star freshman Cooper Flagg delivered a jaw-dropping defensive moment, soaring through the lane to swat away an Alabama shot, sending the ball deep into the stands.
That kind of dominance defined Duke’s night, as the Blue Devils secured their place in the Final Four.
Duke’s imposing size and defensive intensity stifled the nation’s highest-scoring offense, propelling the Blue Devils to an 85-65 win over Alabama in the East Region final of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday night. The victory sends Duke to its 18th Final Four appearance.
Flagg struggled with his shot, making just 6 of 16 attempts—including one that lodged awkwardly in the rim—but still managed to contribute 16 points. Kon Knueppel paced Duke with 21 points, while Tyrese Proctor, proudly wearing the freshly cut net around his neck postgame, added 17.
Yet, the most telling statistic came on the defensive end: Alabama, fresh off a record-setting three-point explosion in the Sweet 16, was held under 70 points for just the second time this season.
The Crimson Tide shot a season-worst 35.4% from the field and connected on only 25% of their three-pointers (8-for-32), marking their fourth-worst performance from deep all year.
“Holding them to 65 points is unbelievable,” Duke head coach Jon Scheyer said. “We saw them put up 113 points and drain 25 threes just the other night. Our focus was staying disciplined and not getting stretched out defensively.”
Alabama’s Mark Sears, who had lit up the scoreboard with 10 threes in the previous round, struggled mightily. He managed just one three-pointer and finished with six points—his lowest output since being held scoreless in a January matchup against LSU.
“They’ve got length everywhere—just look at their starting five,” Alabama coach Nate Oats said, reflecting on his team’s offensive struggles.
The top-seeded Blue Devils (35-3) extended their winning streak to 15 games and now prepare for a Final Four showdown in San Antonio against the winner of Sunday’s Houston-Tennessee matchup.
Duke’s win dashed the possibility of an all-SEC Final Four, but with No. 1 Florida also advancing, the tournament remains on track for a rare occurrence—four top seeds making the semifinals, a feat last achieved in 2008.
Khaman Maluach, whose 9-foot-8 standing reach presents a unique challenge for opponents, chipped in 14 points on an efficient 6-of-7 shooting while adding two blocks and altering several Alabama attempts at the rim.
Despite Flagg’s shooting woes, he contributed in multiple facets, tallying nine rebounds, three assists, and a highlight-reel rejection of Mouhammed Dioubate’s floater, launching the ball over press row.
Duke’s defensive game plan proved the difference. The Blue Devils took away Alabama’s top threats, constantly switching defenders on Sears and suffocating the perimeter attack, leaving the Crimson Tide searching for answers.
Sears didn’t make his first basket until nearly 18 minutes into the game, a rare midrange jumper—exactly the kind of shot Alabama typically avoids. His final stat line: 2-for-12 from the field, 1-for-5 from three, though he did manage six assists.
“It was a team effort,” Duke guard Sion James said. “We switched a lot, made sure to show him bodies, and kept him from getting any easy looks.”
Labaron Philon led second-seeded Alabama (28-9) with 16 points, but no Crimson Tide player managed to shoot better than 50%.
Scheyer, leading Duke to its first Final Four since Mike Krzyzewski’s farewell season in 2022, has built a roster stacked with NBA talent, potentially featuring as many as six future draft picks.
“This group is loose, confident, and ready for the moment,” Scheyer said of his freshman-led squad, including the 18-year-old Flagg, who is eager to bring a championship back to Cameron Indoor Stadium for the first time since 2015.
Final Four History The last time all four No. 1 seeds reached the Final Four was in 2008 when Kansas, Memphis, UCLA, and North Carolina battled for the title—also in San Antonio.
