Photos: Duke defeats Alabama 85-65 and heads to NCAA Final Four
By Ethan Hyman and
Robert Willett
Duke coach Jon Scheyer celebrates with his team after their 85-65 victory over Alabama on Saturday, March 29, 2025 during the NCAA East Regional final at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
Robert Willett
rwillett@newsobserver.com
The Duke Blue Devils defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide 85-65 for a spot in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Final Four.
Duke was led by outstanding play by freshmen Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel and Khaman Maluach. This will be Jon Scheyer’s first trip to the Final Four as Duke’s coach.
Duke coach Jon Scheyer cuts down the net after the Blue Devils’ 85-65 victory over Alabama on Saturday, March 29, 2025 during the NCAA East Regional final at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
Duke coach Jon Scheyer reacts as he climbs the ladder to cut down the net following the Blue Devils’ 85-65 victory over Alabama on Saturday, March 29, 2025 during the NCAA East Regional final at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
Duke’s head coach Jon Scheyer holds up the net after cutting it down after Duke’s 85-65 victory over Alabama in their Elite 8 game in the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., Saturday, March 29, 2025. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Duke’s head coach Jon Scheyer laughs with Cooper Flagg after Duke’s 85-65 victory over Alabama in their Elite 8 game in the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., Saturday, March 29, 2025. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Duke coach Jon Scheyer celebrates with his team after their 85-65 victory over Alabama on Saturday, March 29, 2025 during the NCAA East Regional final at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
Duke coach Jon Scheyer embraces his son Jett as the Blue Devils celebrate their 85-65 victory over Alabama on Saturday, March 29, 2025 during the NCAA East Regional final at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
Duke center Khaman Maluach (9) cradles Jett Scheyer, Jon Scheyer’s son, as he and teammate Cooper Flagg (2) watch assistant coach Chris Carrawell cut down the net following the Blue Devils 85-65 victory over Alabama on Saturday, March 29, 2025 during the NCAA East Regional final at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
Duke’s Tyrese Proctor (5) hugs Cooper Flagg (2) after Duke’s 85-65 victory over Alabama in their Elite 8 game in the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., Saturday, March 29, 2025. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Duke’s head coach Jon Scheyer hugs Cooper Flagg (2) as time expires in Duke’s 85-65 victory over Alabama in their Elite 8 game in the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., Saturday, March 29, 2025. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Duke’s head coach Jon Scheyer hugs Cooper Flagg (2) as time expires in Duke’s 85-65 victory over Alabama in their Elite 8 game in the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., Saturday, March 29, 2025. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Duke’s Tyrese Proctor (5) talks to Cooper Flagg (2) during the second half of Duke’s 85-65 victory over Alabama in their Elite 8 game in the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., Saturday, March 29, 2025. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Duke’s Tyrese Proctor (5) celebrates after hitting a three-pointer during the second half of Duke’s 85-65 victory over Alabama in their Elite 8 game in the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., Saturday, March 29, 2025. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Duke’s Cooper Flagg (2) defends Alabama’s Mark Sears (1) during the second half of Duke’s 85-65 victory over Alabama in their Elite 8 game in the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., Saturday, March 29, 2025. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Alabama’s Clifford Omoruyi (11) works slow Duke forward Cooper Flagg (2) in the first half on Saturday, March 29, 2025 during the NCAA East Regional final at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
Duke guard Caleb Foster (1) reacts after a basket to give the Blue Devils a 40-31 lead against Alabama in the first half on Saturday, March 29, 2025 during the NCAA East Regional final at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
Duke’s Cooper Flagg (2) blocks the shot by Alabama’s Mouhamed Dioubate (10) during the first half of Duke’s game against Alabama in their Elite 8 game in the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., Saturday, March 29, 2025. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Duke’s Khaman Maluach (9) celebrates after slamming in two during the first half of Duke’s game against Alabama in their Elite 8 game in the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., Saturday, March 29, 2025. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Duke’s Sion James (14) drives around Alabama’s Mark Sears (1) during the first half of Duke’s game against Alabama in their Elite 8 game in the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., Saturday, March 29, 2025. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Duke guard Kon Knueppel (7) reacts after a basket to give the Blue Devils a 30-19 lead against Alabama in the first half on Saturday, March 29, 2025 during the NCAA East Regional final at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
Duke’s Kon Knueppel (7) saves the ball from going out of bounds during the first half of Duke’s game against Alabama in their Elite 8 game in the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., Saturday, March 29, 2025. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Duke’s Cooper Flagg (2) pulls in a rebound from Alabama’s Mouhamed Dioubate (10) during the first half of Duke’s game against Alabama in their Elite 8 game in the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., Saturday, March 29, 2025. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Duke’s Cooper Flagg (2) hugs Kon Knueppel (7) after Flagg made the basket while being fouled during the first half of Duke’s game against Alabama in their Elite 8 game in the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., Saturday, March 29, 2025. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Duke’s Mason Gillis (18) knocks the ball from Alabama’s Aiden Sherrell (22) during the first half of Duke’s game against Alabama in their Elite 8 game in the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., Saturday, March 29, 2025. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Duke guard Tyrese Proctor (5) breaks to the basket against Alabama’s Mark Sears (1) in the first half on Saturday, March 29, 2025 during the NCAA East Regional final at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
Duke’s Cooper Flagg (2) pulls in the rebound between Alabama’s Mark Sears (1) and Grant Nelson (4) during the first half of Duke’s game against Alabama in their Elite 8 game in the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., Saturday, March 29, 2025. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Duke’s Tyrese Proctor toys to drive by an Alabama defender Aden Holloway in first Elite 8 action. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Duke forward Maliq Brown (6) dunks over Alabama’s Labaron Philon (0) in the first half on Saturday, March 29, 2025 during the NCAA East Regional final at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
Alabama coach Nate Oats talks with Mouhamed Dioubate (10) before sending him into the game the first half against Duke on Saturday, March 29, 2025 during the NCAA East Regional final at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
