US EditionSears, Alabama can't duplicate record 3-point night, fall to Duke with Final Four at stake
- On March 29, 2025, Duke defeated Alabama 85-65 in the NCAA Tournament's East Region final at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, advancing to the program's 18th Final Four appearance.
- Duke's victory came almost a year after their Elite Eight loss to North Carolina State, and against an Alabama team whose nation-leading offense struggled, failing to crack 70 points for only the second time this season.
- Kon Knueppel led the Blue Devils with 21 points, while Khaman Maluach contributed 14 points, helping Duke overcome a rough shooting night for Cooper Flagg, who still managed 16 points, and capitalize on Alabama's eight turnovers.
- Coach Nate Oats noted that Alabama struggled when Duke switched ball screens, while Mark Sears stated that Duke's defense made it hard to drive and did a good job building out.
- Duke, with a 35-3 record, will now head to San Antonio for the Final Four to play the winner of the Houston-Tennessee game, marking Jon Scheyer's first Final Four appearance as head coach since taking over from Mike Krzyzewski in 2022.
127 Articles
127 Articles
Duke and Cooper Flagg Will Take Center Stage at the Final Four
With under eight minutes left in Duke’s comfortable and convincing 85-65 victory over Alabama in Saturday night’s East regional final of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, Blue Devils freshman phenom Cooper Flagg found himself with the basketball, being hounded by a smaller Crimson Tide player. That Alabama player was the 6 ft. 1 in. Mark Sears, who like Flagg was a first-team All-American this season, and who happened to hit 10 three-pointer…
Pacific Daily News
No. 1 Duke goes wire-to-wire in sinking No. 2 Alabama
NEWARK, N.J. -- Duke basketball was 364 days removed from a loss in the Elite Eight to rival North Carolina State. Most programs would find joy in an Elite Eight run. Not the Blue Devils. That doesn't live up to…
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