Flagg ratings 16 in MSG debut and No. 3 Duke romps to 110-67 blowout of Illinois

NEW YORK — Cooper Flagg had 16 issues in his Madison Sq. Lawn debut and 7 gamers scored in double figures for No. 3 Duke in a 110-67 blowout of Illinois on Saturday evening.Isaiah Evans paced the Blue Devils (24-3) with 17 issues off the bench, and Kon Knueppel added 15. Duke constructed a 23-point lead within the first part and used to be by no means threatened whilst environment a season scoring prime.Flagg, the freshman anticipated to be the highest select on this 12 months’s NBA draft, added seven rebounds and 5 assists in 23 1/2 mins. However the Blue Devils didn’t even want his absolute best in this evening.Tre White had 16 issues for Illinois (17-11) in a nonconference matchup between systems that misplaced within the Elite 8 of the NCAA Event ultimate 12 months. Kasparas Jakucionis scored 14.TakeawaysIllinois: Hampered not too long ago by means of sicknesses and an damage to ahead Morez Johnson Jr., the Preventing Illini have pale following a 12-3 get started. They’ve misplaced 3 directly — all by means of no less than 14 issues to groups ranked within the best 11 on the time.Duke: Eyeing a No. 1 seed within the NCAA Event, the Blue Devils boast one of the crucial country’s stingiest defenses. They delivered an impressive efficiency on that finish of the ground of their first sport since defensive stopper Maliq Brown dislocated his left shoulder in Monday’s win at Virginia.Key momentAfter getting whistled for 2 fouls within the first 11:18 of a quiet first part, Flagg opened the second one duration with a fast-break dunk. He added every other jam mins later and gave the Duke throng in a soldout crowd of nineteen,812 what it got here to look.Key statIllinois ignored its first 17 makes an attempt from 3-point vary and completed 2 for 26 from past the arc.Up nextIllinois: Will resume Large Ten play at house Tuesday evening towards Iowa.Duke: Talk over with Miami on Tuesday evening.