Cooper Flagg gives Maine fans a show with big night vs. BC - ESPN

BOSTON — Duke freshman Cooper Flagg won't be making it all the way up to Maine, so his fans trekked to Chestnut Hill on Saturday night to see the likely No. 1 overall draft pick play Boston College in his only game in New England this season.

Flagg had 28 points, five rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocked shots to help the No. 3 Blue Devils beat BC 88-63 for their 12th win in a row in front of BC's first sellout of the season, with many of the fans making the trip of three or more hours just to see him.

«This was my dream growing up, my entire life. To be in that position I'm in right now,» Flagg told reporters afterwards. «So I'm just trying to enjoy it and just stay in the moment.»

Fans in Duke jerseys — many of them making the 215-mile drive from the Newport, Maine, environs — helped fill the Conte Forum for the first time this season. When the BC supporters filed out in the final minutes, the Dukies stuck around until the buzzer, giving Flagg one last cheer when he left the court following the game.

«It's huge, the level of support, just to get to see them show up and support me means a lot to me. Just gives me a lot of confidence,» Flagg said. «Being from Maine… when I was growing up, it's easy to just not believe in yourself or just think you can't do that. I just want to keep proving that it doesn't really matter where you're from. As long as you stick to it and keep working, you can make anything happen.»

Flagg said he grew up as a Boston sports fan, rooting for the Celtics, Patriots and Red Sox because they were the closest pro teams to his hometown. On Friday night, Flagg and some of his teammates watched the Celtics — including ex-Blue Devil Jayson Tatum — beat the Magic. (Orlando's Paolo Banchero