Lakhin scores 22, Clemson defeats No. 2 Duke 77-71 to snap Blue Devils' 16-game winning streak

Lakhin scores 22, Clemson defeats No. 2 Duke 77-71 to snap Blue Devils’ 16-game winning streak

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Clemson center Viktor Lakhin celebrates with students after defeating Duke in an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)

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Clemson forward Ian Schieffelin (4) grabs a rebound over Duke forward Maliq Brown (6) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)

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Clemson guard Del Jones (10) celebrates after a 3-point basket against Duke during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)

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Clemson guard Del Jones (10) tries to steal the ball from Duke guard Cooper Flagg (2) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)

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Clemson guard Dillon Hunter (2) dunks against Clemson during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)

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Clemson guard Dillon Hunter and Duke guard Isaiah Evans chase a loose ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)

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Clemson guard Dillon Hunter (2) ties up the ball with Duke guard Tyrese Proctor (5) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)

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Duke guard Sion James (14) celebrates after scoring against Clemson during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)

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Clemson center Viktor Lakhin (0) celebrates with students after defeating Duke in an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)

By STEVE REED

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Viktor Lakhin scored 22 points, Clemson held player of the year candidate Cooper Flagg in check for most of the game and the Tigers defeated No. 2 Duke 77-71 on Saturday night to snap the Blue Devils’ 16-game winning streak.

Chase Hunter scored 14 points and Ian Schieffelin added 12 points and 10 rebounds for Clemson (19-5, 11-2 ACC). The Tigers ended the Blue Devils’ chances of an unbeaten regular season in the Atlantic Coast Conference and denied the Blue Devils (20-3, 12-1) an opportunity to take over the top ranking in the country for the first time in the coach Jon Scheyer era.

No. 1 Auburn lost 90-81 to No. 6 Florida earlier in the day, opening the door for Duke to claim the top spot with a win.

Tyrese Proctor had 23 points and Flagg had 18 points on 6-of-17 shooting for Duke (20-3, 12-1).

Clemson trailed by six at halftime, but used a 12-0 run in the second half to take a 56-49 lead with just under 10 minutes to go.

Hunter sealed the win by blocking Proctor’s layup with 7.9 seconds left.

Takeaways

Duke: The Blue Devils depth was impacted with Mason Gillis missing his second straight game with an illness. Flagg had just four points in the first 34 minutes of the game.

Clemson: The Tigers showed plenty of grit bouncing back from an 89-86 triple overtime loss to Georgia Tech on Tuesday night. Clemson also beat then-No. 4 Kentucky at home in December.

Key moment

Flagg’s slip proved costly with 14 seconds, resulting in a huge turnover with the Blue Devils trailing by two.

Key stat

Clemson won despite making just 13 of 22 free throws.

Up next

Duke hosts California on Wednesday night. Clemson hosts North Carolina on Monday night.

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