Cooper Flagg leads Duke Blue to 74-64 victory over NC State - ESPN

DURHAM, N.C. — Cooper Flagg wrapped the first half of Duke's 74-64 win over NC State with just five points, and during a late timeout, head coach Jon Scheyer had some particularly pointed comments for his superstar freshman.

«He told me I was being finesse, soft,» Flagg said. «Coach is always honest with me about what he thinks. That's what I need. It's about responding well and hearing that helps me a lot.»

He responded with force.

Flagg had 23 second-half points, added five rebounds, an emphatic block and two assists, including a nifty dish to Sion James for a dunk just as the shot clock was about to expire.

Flagg's fireworks keyed Duke, which erased a four-point halftime deficit to finish with a double-digit win.

«In that timeout, I challenged him because his game is not just about scoring but his game is about impacting winning in every facet. He knew it. Credit him for responding.»

Flagg said that type of criticism from his coach is exactly what drew him to Duke, and Scheyer said Flagg's willingness to accept coaching is one of the traits that sets him apart.

«I could go on all day about Cooper, how coachable he is,» Scheyer said. «There's maybe a few times throughout the year where he's not going to like everything you say. A lot of guys will fight it, not acknowledge it. It's a credit to him and the relationship he's allowed us to develop, telling each other the truth.»

Scheyer chalked up some of Flagg's early tentativeness to playing a second game in three days — something Flagg hadn't yet done — after a physical game against Wake Forest on Saturday. He said the sluggish half ignited Flagg at halftime, however, getting him «a little mad.»

Flagg said learning experiences are part of why he came to Duke, and