The Duke Blue Devils defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide 85-65 in a dominant performance to secure their spot in the Final Four.
Just a couple of days removed from their record-breaking performance in the Sweet 16, Alabama ’s men’s basketball team ran into a brick wall from Durham, North Carolina in the East Region Finals on Saturday evening, as the two-seed Crimson Tide fell to the one-seed Duke Blue Devils by a final score of 85-65.
The Tide’s usually potent offense struggled mightily against the suffocating Duke defense, with Alabama’s ability to attack the rim being next to nonexistent and the ability to work inside hindered by the large and aggressive bodies the ACC Champion Blue Devils set up underneath against the Tide. On the other end of the court, while Alabama’s defense made things difficult for Duke by forcing just as many turnovers and with a few highlight blocks, the Blue Devils found a much easier time scoring and converted significantly more opportunities. Alabama finished Saturday’s game going 23-of-65 from the field (35.4%) and 8-of-32 from long range (25%), while Duke ended the game shooting 30-of-56 (53.6%) and 6-of-13 from three (46.2%). Duke would carry a nine-point, 46-37 lead into halftime and built upon that into the second half, making Alabama uncomfortable in everything they are usually used to offensively and continuing to get their own finishes. The Blue Devil defense would hold Alabama scoreless for around seven-and-a-half of the final eight minutes of play, while going on their own five minute long scoring run going into the final three minutes to unquestionably seal the deal against the Tide. Labaron Philon was the bright spot on Alabama’s mostly dim day, scoring 16 points while adding 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals. Chris Youngblood and Grant Nelson also finished with 10 points a piece, while Tide star Mark Sears was held to 6 points and 2-for-12 shooting from the field. Duke had four starters finish with double digit scoring on Saturday, with Kon Knueppel leading the way with 21 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals. Tyrese Proctor finished with 17 points, while Naismith Trophy finalist Cooper Flagg (16 points, 9 rebounds) and Khaman Maluach (14 points, 9 rebounds) both finished just short of double-doubles. The Blue Devils return to their first Final Four since 2022 and their first under head coach Jon Scheyer, while Nate Oats and Alabama fall short of their second-straight trip to the national semifinals. One-seed Duke will take on the Midwest Region Final winners, either one-seed Houston (33-4) or two-seed Tennessee (30-7), on Saturday, April 5, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas
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