The Duke Blue Devils started strong, leading Clemson 41-35 at halftime. Tyrese Proctor was a standout for Duke, opening the scoring with a three-pointer and continuing to contribute significantly throughout the first half. His efforts, along with those of Cooper Flagg and Sion James, helped Duke capitalize on Clemson's turnovers, scoring 18 points off turnovers in the first half alone. Proctor's aggressive defense and quick offensive moves set the tone for Duke's initial dominance [1].

Clemson's strategy to focus on dominating the paint paid off in the second half. The Tigers outscored Duke 40-22 in the paint and secured a 36-23 edge in rebounding. Viktor Lakhin was instrumental in this effort, contributing 22 points, four rebounds, and three blocked shots. His performance, along with Ian Schieffelin's crucial dunk, helped Clemson take control in the latter part of the game. Despite Duke's defensive efforts, Clemson's composure and execution led them to victory, as highlighted by Coach Brad Brownell's emphasis on maintaining composure after their previous game [2].

Cooper Flagg, despite being held in check for most of the game, made a late push to bring Duke back into contention. He scored 14 points in the final minutes, including a critical three-pointer. However, a crucial slip on a wet spot led to a traveling call, halting Duke's comeback attempt. Coach Jon Scheyer defended Flagg's performance, noting the physical toll of recent games and the need for his star player to recover. Flagg's late-game heroics showcased his potential, but Clemson's solid game plan and execution ultimately secured their victory [2].