Cooper Flagg delivered a historic performance Saturday night, scoring 42 points to lead Duke to an 86-78 win over Notre Dame at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The freshman’s output set an ACC single-game scoring record for freshmen, surpassing Olivier Hanlan’s 41-point mark from 2013.
Flagg wasted no time making an impact. He knocked down two quick three-pointers early, establishing the rhythm that carried him through the game.
The 6-foot-9 forward shot an efficient 11-of-14 from the field, including 4-of-6 from beyond the arc, and converted 16 of 17 free throws—another freshman record for the Blue Devils. Flagg also contributed six rebounds and seven assists in 36 minutes of action.
Flagg’s 42 points are the most by a Duke player at Cameron Indoor Stadium since 1976 and the highest by any Blue Devil since Danny Ferry scored 58 in 1988.
Despite holding an 18-point lead in the second half, Duke faced a late push from Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish cut the deficit to four points with less than a minute remaining, but Flagg sealed the game with clutch free throws in the final seconds.
Flagg’s historic night places him alongside ACC legends Tyler Hansbrough and Harrison Barnes as the only freshmen in league history to score 40 or more points in a game.