The Duke Blue Devils, spearheaded by Cooper Flagg, secured a dominant 76-47 victory over the visiting Pittsburgh Panthers on Tuesday night. A close game for much of the contest, Duke (13-2, 5-0 ACC) pulled away with an 18-0 run in the final eight minutes, leaving Pittsburgh (12-3, 3-1 ACC) scoreless in the last 7:59.
Real cheap shot by Damian Dunn.
— Craig H. Evans (@cheprman) January 8, 2025
The game’s highlight was a thunderous dunk by Flagg, who posterized Pittsburgh’s 7-foot center Guillermo Diaz Graham on a fast break in the second half. Flagg delivered a stellar performance, tallying 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting, 10 rebounds, and five assists. Tyrese Proctor also contributed significantly, finishing with 13 points, four rebounds, and four assists, shooting 4 of 8 from the floor.
However, the game took a controversial turn in its final moments. With less than a minute remaining and Pittsburgh trailing by 24 points, Panthers player Damian Dunn was ejected for hitting Tyrese Proctor in the stomach. The action, perceived by many as targeting below the belt, sparked outrage among Duke fans and basketball enthusiasts.
Damian Dunn been on that bullshit
— fendo (@dancingwithnoah) January 8, 2025
Online, fans expressed mixed reactions. Some were incensed by Dunn’s behavior, calling it a cheap shot and demanding disciplinary action. Comments ranged from labeling the act immature to calling for Dunn’s suspension for the remainder of the season. One fan remarked, “He could have ended Proctor’s career… he didn’t even apologize.”
This view pic.twitter.com/m4Fh9THBhN
— StreetHistory Videos (@streethistory) January 8, 2025
Others, however, felt the incident was overblown. Critics of the ejection suggested Proctor exaggerated the foul, with some referring to the contact as “soft” and unworthy of a flagrant-2 call. Comments such as “Basketball is the new soccer when it comes to faking” and “Looked like a flop” circulated online, reflecting the divided opinions.
Despite the controversy, Duke’s victory underscored their dominance, highlighted by Flagg’s standout performance and a strong finish that kept Pittsburgh off the scoreboard in the closing minutes. The win extended Duke’s undefeated streak in ACC play, cementing their position as one of the nation’s top teams.