Duke freshman and Maine native Cooper Flagg handles the ball as Maine’s Logan Carey during the season opener for both teams on Monday in Durham, N.C. Ben McKeown/Associated Press

DURHAM, N.C. — Star freshman Cooper Flagg had 18 points, seven rebounds and five assists in his college debut, and No. 7 Duke beat Maine 96-62 on Monday night in the season opener for both teams.

The 6-foot-9, 205-pound Flagg – a Newport, Maine native, the nation’s top-ranked recruit and a preseason Associated Press All-American – made 6 of 15 shots and all six of his free throws. Fellow rookie Kon Knueppel powered the offense with 22 points and three 3-pointers for the Blue Devils (1-0), who shot 55.6% for the game.

Quion Burns scored 15 points for the Black Bears (0-1), which shot just 6 for 24 (25%) after halftime as Duke pulled away. The Black Bears were picked fourth in the America East, their highest projected finish since the 2010-11 season. They hung around in the first half (45.5% shooting) but everything was a struggle after the break.

Maine’s Quion Burns, right, attempts a shot as Cooper Flagg of Duke defends during the first half Monday’s game in Durham, N.C. Ben McKeown/Associated Press

Atlantic Coast Conference favorite Duke had six players score in double figures, including returnees Caleb Foster (11) and Tyrese Proctor (10). Duke pulled away with an 11-0 run in the second half. Knueppel made a corner 3 off a feed from Flagg and Sion James scored twice in the paint to push the margin to 60-39 with 14:33 left.

Knueppel, a 6-7 wing, had 15 points on 5-for-8 shooting with a pair of 3s by halftime. That included a 4-point play in transition that had him outscoring Maine 13-9 in those opening 7 1/2 minutes as Duke ran out to a double-digit lead.

A SCARE AT THE END

As Duke was finishing off its win, the 6-9 Flagg attempted a strong move for a layup across the lane. He missed and when he landed, the projected No. 1 pick in next summer’s NBA Draft signaled for medical help from the bench as his left leg appeared to cramp.

As the sold-out crowd waited pensively, Duke athletics trainer Jose Fonseca manipulated and flexed Flagg’s left foot before the standout freshman walked gingerly to the bench. He took a drink of water and was smiling while chatting with Duke Coach Jon Scheyer.