Monday night’s high-stakes men’s basketball clash between Duke and NC State at Cameron Indoor Stadium took a concerning turn during the second half when a fan in the student section required emergency medical attention. With 3:30 remaining in the game and Duke leading late, security personnel rushed to the first few rows after the fan lost consciousness. The individual was swiftly carried out of the arena by a group of guards, though details about their condition post-evacuation were not immediately disclosed.
Scary scene at Duke as a student appears to have fallen unconscious and is carried out of the stands. pic.twitter.com/zorOptyLzv
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 28, 2025
The incident followed an earlier disruption involving Duke freshman center Khaman Maluach, who abruptly vomited on the baseline late in the game, prompting a pause for cleanup. Maluach, who contributed four points and eight rebounds in 18 minutes, was escorted to the locker room and did not return.
Amid the chaos, the Blue Devils maintained their composure to secure a 74-64 comeback victory. After trailing 37-33 at halftime, Duke surged in the second half behind star freshman Cooper Flagg’s dominant 28-point, seven-rebound performance. Flagg, shooting 8-of-17 from the field, spearheaded a decisive 41-27 second-half run, supported by fellow rookie Kon Knueppel’s 19 points and guard Sion James’ 10 points.
NC State struggled to counter Duke’s late-game intensity, ultimately falling short despite a competitive start. The Blue Devils improved their record with the resilient win, overcoming both a halftime deficit and the unusual in-game interruptions.
