No. 9 Duke made an announcement in its 84-78 win over No. 2 Auburn on Wednesday within the ultimate sport of the ACC/SEC Males’s Problem. The Blue Devils handed the Tigers their first lack of the season after trailing by as many as 11 factors within the first half to document their largest win of the season.
Duke five-star freshman Isaiah Evans had solely knocked down seven 3-pointers in 4 appearances this season however got here off the bench and gave his workforce a much-needed spark. Evans knocked down six 3-pointers within the first half and completed with 18 factors.
Evans’ classmate Cooper Flagg — the top-ranked participant from the 2024 recruiting class — completed with a team-high 22 factors and recorded 11 rebounds, 4 assists and two blocks. Auburn’s final lead got here with simply over three minutes remaining within the first half. The Blue Devils ended the half on an 11-3 run to take a 43-36 lead into intermission and by no means seemed again.
Auburn star large man Johni Broome completed with 20 factors and 12 rebounds, whereas freshman Tahaad Pettiford scored 20. 4 totally different Auburn gamers completed as double-figure scorers.
The Tigers got here into the week as one of many hottest groups within the nation. Auburn went 3-0 eventually week’s Maui Invitational and picked up wins over Iowa State, North Carolina and Memphis throughout that stretch. Auburn additionally added a nonconference win over Houston through the opening week of the 2024-25 marketing campaign.
Earlier than handing Auburn its first loss, Duke was 1-2 towards ranked opponents. The Blue Devils suffered losses to Kentucky and Kansas at impartial websites and upset Arizona on the street. Duke (6-2) performs Louisville subsequent on Sunday, whereas Auburn (7-1) faces Richmond on the identical day.
Duke finds a approach to end down the stretch
In losses to Kansas and Kentucky, late-game execution haunted Duke. The Blue Devils had an opportunity to tie or take the lead within the ultimate minute of each of these video games, and it has been the distinction between beginning the season 7-0 or sitting at 5-2 through the first week of December. On Wednesday towards the most well liked workforce within the nation, Duke held off Auburn’s late rally to flee with its largest win of the season. Duke by no means trailed after taking a 34-33 lead with 3:10 remaining within the first half.
Evans was the spark Duke wanted off the bench
The previous five-star prospect got here into this sport as a deep-bench possibility for Duke coach Jon Scheyer. Evans had logged simply over 45 minutes in 4 appearances however got here off the bench and knocked down six 3-pointers within the first half. Evans completed with 18 factors — second on the workforce behind Flagg — and positively made a case that he ought to play extra minutes going ahead.
Auburn should not drop far within the polls regardless of the loss
The final two weeks of the school basketball season have been chaotic. A number of groups ranked excessive within the AP High 25 ballot suffered their first or second loss, which ought to give voters complications when casting their ballots later this weekend. With No. 1 Kansas shedding earlier within the day and No. 4 Kentucky taking place towards Clemson on Tuesday, Auburn should not drop far within the ballot. There is a sturdy risk that Auburn (due to its high quality wins) stays within the prime three come Monday.
ACC/SEC Males’s Problem scores
- No. 3 Tennessee 96, Syracuse 70
- No. 21 Oklahoma 76, Georgia Tech 61
- No. 22 Texas A&M 57, Wake Forest 44
- No. 23 Ole Miss 86, Louisville 63
- Arkansas 76, Miami 73
- Georgia 69, Notre Dame 48
- Missouri 98, Cal 93
- South Carolina 73, Boston Faculty 51
- LSU 85, Florida State 75
- Clemson 70, No. 4 Kentucky 66
- No. 13 Florida 87, Virginia 69
- No. 10 Alabama 94, No. 20 North Carolina 79
- Mississippi State 90, No. 18 Pitt 57
- Texas 63, NC State 59
- Vanderbilt 80, Virginia Tech 64
- No. 9 Duke 84, No. 2 Auburn 78
