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Knueppel, Flagg help No. 2 Duke pull away late to beat rival UNC 82-69

AP
Mar 09, 2025

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) Freshman Kon Knueppel scored 17 points to help No. 2 Duke beat rival North Carolina 82-69 on Saturday night and clinch the outright Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season title.

Cooper Flagg added 15 points, nine rebounds and six assists despite first-half foul trouble for the Blue Devils (28-3, 19-1).

Duke blew a 15-point first-half lead and trailed by seven midway early after the break, but responded with 12 consecutive points to turn the game and silence a roaring hostile crowd.

The Blue Devils are now in position to rise to No. 1 in Monday's AP Top 25 poll with top-ranked Auburn losing its past two games.

Fifth-year senior RJ Davis scored 20 points in his final home game for Tar Heels (20-12), who were blown out in the first meeting but responded with far more resilience this time before Duke asserted control to stretch out the lead in the final seven minutes.

Duke: The Final Four favorite completed the first 19-1 regular-season slate since the ACC moved to 20 games in 2019-20.

UNC: The Tar Heels had won six straight coming in with their best play of the season to play their way back into better positioning for an NCAA bid. But this was their last certain chance to add a resume-topping win to help that case.

UNC led 59-53 when Duke made its move with 12 straight points in a 15-2 burst that put the Blue Devils ahead to stay. That included Knueppel's backdoor layup for the lead, while versatile defender Maliq Brown had a big 3-pointer in his return from injury that pushed Duke to a 68-61 lead with 8 1/2 minutes left.

UNC missed 22 of its last 27 shots in the final 15-plus minutes as Duke made its move.

The ACC Tournament starts Tuesday in Charlotte. Duke opens play as the 1-seed in Thursday's quarterfinals. UNC is the 5-seed and will play in Wednesday's second round.

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1st Half
DUKE
Blue Devils
43
UNC
Tar Heels
42

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Khaman Maluach vs. Ty Claude (Sion James gains possession)
19:31	+2	Kon Knueppel makes two point jump shot	2-0
19:12		RJ Davis turnover (Khaman Maluach steals)
19:08		Elliot Cadeau blocks Tyrese Proctor's two point layup
19:06		Blue Devils offensive rebound
19:03	+3	Cooper Flagg makes three point jump shot (Kon Knueppel assists)	5-0
18:40	+2	Elliot Cadeau makes two point layup	5-2
18:19		Cooper Flagg misses three point jump shot
18:17		Jae'Lyn Withers defensive rebound
18:01		Elliot Cadeau turnover (Kon Knueppel steals)
17:52		Elliot Cadeau shooting foul (Sion James draws the foul)
17:52		Sion James misses regular free throw 1 of 2
17:52	+1	Sion James makes regular free throw 2 of 2	6-2
17:44		Elliot Cadeau misses two point jump shot
17:42		Cooper Flagg defensive rebound
17:35		Cooper Flagg misses two point hook shot
17:33		Elliot Cadeau defensive rebound
17:25		Elliot Cadeau turnover (Sion James steals)
17:20	+2	Sion James makes two point layup (Cooper Flagg assists)	8-2
16:58	+3	Drake Powell makes three point jump shot (Elliot Cadeau assists)	8-5
16:26		Sion James turnover (Elliot Cadeau steals)
16:12		Elliot Cadeau misses two point layup
16:10		Blue Devils defensive rebound
16:03		Kon Knueppel turnover (Drake Powell steals)
15:49		Cooper Flagg shooting foul (Drake Powell draws the foul)
15:49		TV timeout
15:49	+1	Drake Powell makes regular free throw 1 of 2	8-6
15:49	+1	Drake Powell makes regular free throw 2 of 2	8-7
15:42		Drake Powell personal foul (Cooper Flagg draws the foul)
15:38		Kon Knueppel turnover (Seth Trimble steals)
15:20		Seth Trimble misses three point jump shot
15:18		Sion James defensive rebound
15:09	+2	Sion James makes two point layup	10-7
15:09		Ian Jackson shooting foul (Sion James draws the foul)
15:09	+1	Sion James makes regular free throw 1 of 1	11-7
14:50	+3	RJ Davis makes three point jump shot	11-10
14:29		Isaiah Evans turnover
14:17		Ian Jackson misses three point jump shot
14:15		Sion James defensive rebound
14:03	+3	Kon Knueppel makes three point jump shot (Maliq Brown assists)	14-10
13:46		Isaiah Evans shooting foul (Seth Trimble draws the foul)
13:46	+1	Seth Trimble makes regular free throw 1 of 2	14-11
13:46	+1	Seth Trimble makes regular free throw 2 of 2	14-12
13:30	+3	Kon Knueppel makes three point jump shot (Maliq Brown assists)	17-12
13:00		Seth Trimble misses two point jump shot
12:58		Maliq Brown defensive rebound
12:53		Cooper Flagg offensive foul
12:53		Cooper Flagg turnover (offensive foul)
12:35	+2	Ian Jackson makes two point layup	17-14
12:15	+3	Tyrese Proctor makes three point jump shot	20-14
12:04		RJ Davis misses two point jump shot
12:02		Isaiah Evans defensive rebound
11:53	+2	Kon Knueppel makes two point layup	22-14
11:30	+3	Ian Jackson makes three point jump shot	22-17
11:15		Tyrese Proctor misses two point layup
11:13		Khaman Maluach offensive rebound
11:10	+2	Khaman Maluach makes two point layup	24-17
11:02		Mason Gillis shooting foul (Seth Trimble draws the foul)
11:02		TV timeout
11:02	+1	Seth Trimble makes regular free throw 1 of 2	24-18
11:02	+1	Seth Trimble makes regular free throw 2 of 2	24-19
10:49	+2	Sion James makes two point layup	26-19
10:25		Jae'Lyn Withers misses three point jump shot
10:23		Tyrese Proctor defensive rebound
9:58	+3	Tyrese Proctor makes three point jump shot	29-19
9:43	+2	Jalen Washington makes two point layup (Elliot Cadeau assists)	29-21
9:21	+2	Tyrese Proctor makes two point layup	31-21
8:57		Seth Trimble misses two point layup
8:55		Sion James defensive rebound
8:39		Ian Jackson shooting foul (Tyrese Proctor draws the foul)
8:39	+1	Tyrese Proctor makes regular free throw 1 of 2	32-21
8:39	+1	Tyrese Proctor makes regular free throw 2 of 2	33-21
8:17		Jae'Lyn Withers misses two point jump shot
8:15		Isaiah Evans defensive rebound
8:09		Elliot Cadeau shooting foul (Isaiah Evans draws the foul)
8:09	+1	Isaiah Evans makes regular free throw 1 of 3	34-21
8:09	+1	Isaiah Evans makes regular free throw 2 of 3	35-21
8:09	+1	Isaiah Evans makes regular free throw 3 of 3	36-21
7:52		Jae'Lyn Withers misses three point jump shot
7:50		Maliq Brown defensive rebound
7:43		Maliq Brown offensive foul
7:43		Maliq Brown turnover (offensive foul)
7:43		TV timeout
7:32		Maliq Brown personal foul
7:25	+2	Jae'Lyn Withers makes two point layup	36-23
7:02		Kon Knueppel misses three point jump shot
7:00		RJ Davis defensive rebound
6:56	+3	RJ Davis makes three point jump shot	36-26
6:28	+3	Mason Gillis makes three point jump shot (Kon Knueppel assists)	39-26
6:02		Tyrese Proctor personal foul
6:02	+1	RJ Davis makes regular free throw 1 of 2	39-27
6:02	+1	RJ Davis makes regular free throw 2 of 2	39-28
5:35		Tyrese Proctor misses three point jump shot
5:33		Ven-Allen Lubin defensive rebound
5:28		RJ Davis misses two point layup
5:26		Tyrese Proctor defensive rebound
5:20		Kon Knueppel misses three point jump shot
5:18		Blue Devils offensive rebound
5:13		Cooper Flagg misses two point jump shot
5:11		Jae'Lyn Withers defensive rebound
5:05	+2	Jae'Lyn Withers makes two point layup	39-30
4:47	+2	Cooper Flagg makes two point jump shot	41-30
4:21		Drake Powell misses two point layup
4:19		Khaman Maluach defensive rebound
4:09		Ven-Allen Lubin blocks Isaiah Evans's two point layup
4:07		Drake Powell defensive rebound
4:02		Seth Trimble misses two point layup
4:00		Ven-Allen Lubin offensive rebound
3:57	+2	Ven-Allen Lubin makes two point layup	41-32
3:45		Sion James turnover (Seth Trimble steals)
3:35		Drake Powell misses three point jump shot
3:33		Cooper Flagg defensive rebound
3:18		Cooper Flagg offensive foul
3:18		Cooper Flagg turnover (offensive foul)
3:18		TV timeout
2:58	+2	Ven-Allen Lubin makes two point layup (Jae'Lyn Withers assists)	41-34
2:58		Sion James shooting foul (Ven-Allen Lubin draws the foul)
2:58	+1	Ven-Allen Lubin makes regular free throw 1 of 1	41-35
2:44		Mason Gillis misses three point jump shot
2:42		Ven-Allen Lubin defensive rebound
2:22	+3	RJ Davis makes three point jump shot	41-38
1:58		Sion James turnover (Ian Jackson steals)
1:51	+2	RJ Davis makes two point layup	41-40
1:48		Blue Devils 30 second timeout
1:40		Seth Trimble personal foul
1:33		RJ Davis shooting foul (Sion James draws the foul)
1:33	+1	Sion James makes regular free throw 1 of 2	42-40
1:33	+1	Sion James makes regular free throw 2 of 2	43-40
1:19		Jae'Lyn Withers misses three point jump shot
1:17		Khaman Maluach defensive rebound
1:04		Tyrese Proctor misses three point jump shot
1:02		Seth Trimble defensive rebound
0:41	+2	RJ Davis makes two point jump shot	43-42
0:11		Sion James misses two point layup
0:09		Khaman Maluach offensive rebound
0:07		Khaman Maluach misses two point layup
0:05		Ven-Allen Lubin defensive rebound
0:01		RJ Davis misses three point jump shot
0:00		Khaman Maluach defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
DUKE
Blue Devils
39
UNC
Tar Heels
27

Time		Play	Score
19:40	+2	Tyrese Proctor makes two point floating jump shot	45-42
19:15	+3	RJ Davis makes three point jump shot	45-45
18:51		Tyrese Proctor turnover (bad pass) (Ven-Allen Lubin steals)
18:35	+3	Jae'Lyn Withers makes three point jump shot (RJ Davis assists)	45-48
18:23	+2	Cooper Flagg makes two point driving layup	47-48
18:04	+2	Drake Powell makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot	47-50
17:43		Khaman Maluach turnover (lost ball) (Elliot Cadeau steals)
17:33	+2	RJ Davis makes two point pullup jump shot	47-52
17:33		Blue Devils 30 second timeout
17:33		TV timeout
17:23	+2	Cooper Flagg makes two point driving layup	49-52
17:01		Ven-Allen Lubin misses two point driving layup
16:59		Khaman Maluach defensive rebound
16:49		Khaman Maluach misses two point driving layup
16:47		Khaman Maluach offensive rebound
16:47		Jae'Lyn Withers personal foul (Cooper Flagg draws the foul)
16:40		Cooper Flagg misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot
16:38		Jae'Lyn Withers defensive rebound
16:29	+2	Elliot Cadeau makes two point driving layup	49-54
16:04		Kon Knueppel misses three point jump shot
16:02		Drake Powell defensive rebound
15:59		Sion James personal foul (Drake Powell draws the foul)
15:59		TV timeout
15:39	+2	Ven-Allen Lubin makes two point driving layup	49-56
15:26	+2	Tyrese Proctor makes two point pullup jump shot (Cooper Flagg assists)	51-56
14:58		Ian Jackson misses three point jump shot
14:56		Cooper Flagg defensive rebound
14:41	+2	Sion James makes two point driving dunk (Kon Knueppel assists)	53-56
14:23		Maliq Brown shooting foul (Ian Jackson draws the foul)
14:23	+1	Ian Jackson makes regular free throw 1 of 2	53-57
14:23		Ian Jackson misses regular free throw 2 of 2
14:23		Cooper Flagg defensive rebound
14:08		Tyrese Proctor turnover (lost ball) (Elliot Cadeau steals)
13:47		Cooper Flagg blocks Seth Trimble's two point driving layup
13:45		Sion James defensive rebound
13:35		Kon Knueppel offensive foul (Elliot Cadeau draws the foul)
13:35		Kon Knueppel turnover (offensive foul)
13:16		Ian Jackson misses three point jump shot
13:14		Kon Knueppel defensive rebound
12:57		Cooper Flagg misses three point jump shot
12:55		Jalen Washington defensive rebound
12:49	+2	Ian Jackson makes two point driving layup	53-59
12:25	+2	Sion James makes two point driving layup (Cooper Flagg assists)	55-59
12:02		Elliot Cadeau misses two point driving layup
12:00		Cooper Flagg defensive rebound
11:52		Sion James misses two point driving layup
11:50		Cooper Flagg offensive rebound
11:44	+2	Cooper Flagg makes two point tip dunk	57-59
11:35		Drake Powell misses three point jump shot
11:33		Cooper Flagg defensive rebound
11:26		Seth Trimble personal foul (Cooper Flagg draws the foul)
11:26		TV timeout
11:26	+1	Cooper Flagg makes regular free throw 1 of 2	58-59
11:26	+1	Cooper Flagg makes regular free throw 2 of 2	59-59
11:01		Ven-Allen Lubin turnover (lost ball)
10:48	+2	Kon Knueppel makes two point driving layup (Maliq Brown assists)	61-59
10:26		RJ Davis turnover (lost ball) (Sion James steals)
10:15	+2	Caleb Foster makes two point driving layup	63-59
9:47		Jae'Lyn Withers misses two point driving layup
9:45		Kon Knueppel defensive rebound
9:41	+2	Maliq Brown makes two point driving dunk (Sion James assists)	65-59
9:39		Tar Heels 30 second timeout
9:15	+2	Ven-Allen Lubin makes two point cutting layup (Ian Jackson assists)	65-61
9:06		Cooper Flagg turnover (RJ Davis steals)
8:54		RJ Davis misses three point jump shot
8:52		Ven-Allen Lubin offensive rebound
8:45		Ven-Allen Lubin misses two point driving layup
8:43		Caleb Foster defensive rebound
8:34	+3	Maliq Brown makes three point jump shot (Cooper Flagg assists)	68-61
8:16		RJ Davis misses three point jump shot
8:13		Tar Heels offensive rebound
8:00		Cooper Flagg blocks Jae'Lyn Withers's three point jump shot
7:58		Tar Heels offensive rebound
7:58		TV timeout
7:55		RJ Davis misses three point jump shot
7:53		Khaman Maluach defensive rebound
7:31		Cooper Flagg misses two point driving layup
7:29		Cooper Flagg offensive rebound
7:23		Cooper Flagg misses two point putback layup
7:21		Jae'Lyn Withers defensive rebound
7:13	+3	Elliot Cadeau makes three point jump shot (RJ Davis assists)	68-64
6:52	+3	Kon Knueppel makes three point jump shot (Cooper Flagg assists)	71-64
6:28		Jae'Lyn Withers misses two point driving layup
6:26		Khaman Maluach defensive rebound
6:11	+2	Kon Knueppel makes two point driving layup	73-64
5:38		Cooper Flagg blocks Ven-Allen Lubin's two point driving dunk
5:36		Sion James defensive rebound
5:16		Cooper Flagg misses three point jump shot
5:14		Elliot Cadeau defensive rebound
5:03		Elliot Cadeau misses two point driving layup
5:01		Sion James defensive rebound
4:55	+2	Sion James makes two point driving layup	75-64
4:48		Tar Heels 60 second timeout
4:39		Caleb Foster blocks Elliot Cadeau's two point driving layup
4:37		Tar Heels offensive rebound
4:23		Tyrese Proctor personal foul
4:06	+3	Seth Trimble makes three point jump shot (RJ Davis assists)	75-67
3:34	+3	Maliq Brown makes three point jump shot (Caleb Foster assists)	78-67
3:19		Seth Trimble misses three point jump shot
3:17		Tar Heels offensive rebound
3:15		TV timeout
3:02		Elliot Cadeau misses three point jump shot
3:00		Seth Trimble offensive rebound
3:00		Cooper Flagg blocks Seth Trimble's two point driving layup
2:58		Cooper Flagg defensive rebound
2:56	+2	Tyrese Proctor makes two point driving layup (Cooper Flagg assists)	80-67
2:56		RJ Davis shooting foul (Tyrese Proctor draws the foul)
2:56		Tyrese Proctor misses regular free throw 1 of 1
2:56		Seth Trimble defensive rebound
2:39		Sion James personal foul
2:30		Drake Powell misses three point jump shot
2:28		Maliq Brown defensive rebound
2:03		Cooper Flagg misses two point driving layup
2:01		Ven-Allen Lubin defensive rebound
1:50		RJ Davis misses three point jump shot
1:48		RJ Davis offensive rebound
1:42		RJ Davis misses two point driving layup
1:40		Sion James defensive rebound
1:32	+2	Cooper Flagg makes two point driving dunk	82-67
1:20		Seth Trimble misses two point driving layup
1:18		Sion James defensive rebound
0:55		Maliq Brown misses three point jump shot
0:53		RJ Davis defensive rebound
0:42	+2	Ven-Allen Lubin makes two point cutting dunk (Seth Trimble assists)	82-69
0:42		Tar Heels 30 second timeout
0:38		Ian Jackson personal foul (Tyrese Proctor draws the foul)
0:18		Caleb Foster misses two point driving layup
0:16		Seth Trimble defensive rebound
0:08		Seth Trimble turnover (lost ball) (Sion James steals)
0:00		End of period

Seth Trimble turnover (lost ball) (Sion James steals)