Duke’s offense was firing on all cylinders as it outscored Alabama 56.3% to 40% in the first half of their matchup. The Blue Devils’ defense, however, has been the real game-changer, limiting Alabama’s high-powered offense to just 26.3% from 3-point distance.
Alabama, known for its scoring prowess, struggled to contain Duke’s defense, especially from beyond the arc. The Crimson Tide went 5 of 19 from distance, a stark contrast to their record-breaking 25 made 3s in their previous game against BYU.
Despite this, Alabama’s top scorers were unable to replicate their usual form. All-American Mark Sears had only two points and struggled with his shots, going 1 for 4 from the field. Meanwhile, Kon Knueppel and Cooper Flagg led the charge for Duke, with 11 and 10 points respectively, to give their team a strong lead heading into halftime.
Source: https://sports.yahoo.com/college-basketball/live/march-madness-scores-results-highlights-duke-blows-out-alabama-to-reach-final-four-florida-outlasts-texas-tech-210050569.html