In a game filled with unexpected turns, the Duke Blue Devils narrowly escaped an upset against North Carolina State on Monday night, winning 74-64. Freshman standout Cooper Flagg put on a show, scoring 23 points in the second half alone, but the game was also marked by two separate incidents involving apparent health issues.

Duke center Khaman Maluach experienced a bout of sickness on the court during the second half. Video footage showed the 7'2" player hunched over in the key before vomiting. He slowly left the court and later retreated to the bench area. Blue Devils head coach Jon Scheyer clarified the situation post-game, explaining that Maluach wasn't ill but suffering from cramps after rapidly consuming a large quantity of Gatorade. Scheyer praised Maluach's character and determination to return to the game despite the incident.

A second incident involved a member of the Cameron Crazies student section who appeared to faint during the game. Emergency personnel assisted the fan off the court and out of the seating area. A Duke spokesperson later confirmed that the fan had become overheated but was treated at the stadium and left on her own.

Beyond the dramatic off-court moments, Flagg's impressive performance propelled Duke to victory. Fellow freshman Kon Knueppel also contributed significantly with 19 points. The win extends Duke's streak to 14 games, improving their record to 18-2 overall and a perfect 10-0 in ACC play.