Kentucky Defeats Duke in Champions Classic

No. 19 Kentucky secured a significant victory over No. 6 Duke in the Champions Classic, with Otega Oweh's free throws in the final seconds sealing the 77-72 win. Duke's freshman standout, Cooper Flagg, showcased his talent with 26 points and 12 rebounds but committed crucial turnovers in the last minute, allowing Kentucky to capitalize. This victory marks an important milestone for Kentucky's coach, Mark Pope, who returned to his alma mater following John Calipari's tenure. Despite Duke's overall strong performance, their 4 of 23 shooting from beyond the arc and Flagg's late-game errors were pivotal. Kentucky demonstrated balanced scoring with nine players contributing, and Kerr Kriisa, their senior guard, expressed confidence in facing Duke, anticipating an exciting game.