NEWARK, N.J. — The NCAA Tournament is heating up as the Sweet 16 rolls into action, and Thursday night featured a thrilling matchup between the No. 1 seed Duke Blue Devils and the No. 4 seed Arizona Wildcats at the Prudential Center. After a fierce battle, the Blue Devils emerged victorious with an 86-79 win, advancing to the Elite Eight for a chance to compete for a spot in the Final Four.
Duke, coming off two dominating victories in the tournament, showcased their offensive prowess early on. The Blue Devils had previously dismantled Mount St. Mary's 93-49 and Baylor 89-66, winning those games by an average margin of 33.5 points. They were looking to continue that momentum against a determined Arizona team, which had just edged out Oregon 87-83 in their last game.
The first half of the game was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams exchanging leads. Cooper Flagg, the standout freshman for Duke, made his presence known early, scoring 18 points in the first half alone. His buzzer-beating three-pointer at the end of the half gave Duke a narrow 48-42 lead heading into the locker room.
Flagg's performance was a highlight for the Blue Devils, as he finished the game with 27 points, six assists, and six rebounds. His ability to stretch the floor and create opportunities for his teammates made him a key player in Duke's offensive strategy. "Cooper has been exceptional for us all season, and tonight was no different," said Duke head coach Jon Scheyer.
Arizona's Caleb Love, a former North Carolina standout, was equally impressive, pouring in a game-high 33 points. Love's ability to score from beyond the arc kept Arizona in contention, and he even managed to score the last 15 points for the Wildcats during a crucial stretch in the second half. "I just wanted to keep my team in the game and give us a chance to win," Love said after the game. "We fought hard, but it just wasn't enough tonight."
The second half saw Duke extend their lead to as much as 15 points, leading 72-56 with 10:57 left in the game. However, Arizona showed resilience, going on a 19-8 run to cut the deficit and make it a competitive finish. The Wildcats were not going down without a fight, and they managed to close the gap to just eight points with under five minutes remaining, trailing 86-78.
Despite Arizona's late-game surge, Duke's defense held firm. The Blue Devils finished the game shooting an impressive 61.3% from the field and 53.8% from three-point range, compared to Arizona's 42.9% overall shooting. Duke's dominance in the paint was evident, as they outscored Arizona 30-8 in that area, showcasing their physicality.
Patrick Ngongba II and Khaman Maluach, both key players for Duke, faced early foul trouble but managed to contribute crucial minutes as the game progressed. Ngongba fouled out with 5:50 left in the game, but by that time, Duke had established a comfortable lead.
The intensity of the game was palpable, with both teams combining for 37 fouls. Arizona's struggles with foul trouble were evident, as they accumulated 17 fouls compared to Duke's 20. This contributed to a challenging night for the Wildcats, who were unable to capitalize on their opportunities.
As the clock wound down, Duke managed to maintain their lead by executing their plays effectively and making critical free throws. With this victory, Duke will advance to the Elite Eight, where they will face the No. 2 seed Alabama, who earlier in the evening set an NCAA Tournament record with 25 three-pointers in a win against BYU.
Looking ahead, Duke's matchup against Alabama promises to be an exciting clash. The Blue Devils will need to continue their high level of play and find ways to neutralize Alabama's explosive offense. Coach Scheyer emphasized the importance of preparing for the next challenge: "We have to stay focused and keep improving. Alabama is a tough team, and we need to bring our best game to advance further in this tournament."
The stage is set for a thrilling Elite Eight showdown, and fans are eagerly anticipating what promises to be another unforgettable chapter in March Madness.
