Duke Basketball Defeats SMU 89-62

Duke freshman Cooper Flagg showcased his talent with 24 points and 11 rebounds in a dominant 89-62 victory over SMU, extending Duke's winning streak to eight games. The Blue Devils, ranked fourth, played without head coach Jon Scheyer, who was absent due to illness, leaving associate head coach Chris Carrawell in charge. Despite a strong performance from SMU's Boopie Miller, who scored 21 points, the Mustangs struggled against Duke's top-ranked defense, shooting only 34% from the field. Flagg's early scoring helped Duke establish a significant lead, and the Blue Devils maintained control throughout the game, outscoring SMU 42-24 in the paint. The win positions Duke favorably for their upcoming matchup against Pittsburgh, while SMU's seven-game winning streak came to an end as they faced their first major challenge in the ACC.