DURHAM, N.C. — In a thrilling encounter during the SEC/ACC Challenge, freshman standout Cooper Flagg led No. 9 Duke to an 84-78 victory over No. 2 Auburn on Wednesday night, contributing 22 points and 11 rebounds to his team’s success.
Flagg, who has been recognized as a preseason Associated Press All-American, showed remarkable performance, scoring 16 of his points in the second half to assist the Blue Devils (6-2) in fending off the spirited challenge posed by Auburn and their own All-American, Johni Broome.
Broome finished the night with 20 points and 12 rebounds but was forced to leave the game after fouling out with just 15 seconds remaining. Auburn (7-1) faced challenges in the final crucial minutes, missing seven consecutive shots as Duke maintained its precarious lead in front of an energetic home crowd.
This matchup, however, highlighted the performance of the SEC, which secured a dominant 14-2 win in the overall conference series, with only Duke and Clemson earning victories for the ACC.
In terms of key takeaways, Auburn had been on a strong path to contend for the top ranking following their triumph in the Maui Invitational. However, following a Wednesday night loss to Creighton, the Tigers stumbled in a highly anticipated matchup against Duke.
On the other hand, the Blue Devils navigated from an early 11-point deficit, demonstrating resilience and timely scoring responses. They established a 12-point lead after the halftime break, asserting their dominance on the court.
A pivotal moment of the game came when Duke’s lead shrank to just two points. Flagg maneuvered for a challenging shot that was initially blocked; however, the ball ended up beyond the 3-point line as time dwindled. Teammate Tyrese Proctor was quick to recover it, hitting a long 3-pointer just before the shot clock expired, propelling Duke to a 73-68 advantage with 4:30 left on the clock.
Freshman guard Isaiah Evans was another surprise contributor for Duke, unexpectedly making a significant impact off the bench. Despite not participating in prior high-stakes games against Kentucky, Arizona, or Kansas, he exploded for 18 points, shooting 6 of 8 from beyond the arc before halftime, although he remained scoreless in the second half.
Looking ahead, Auburn is set to host Richmond on Sunday, while Duke will begin its Atlantic Coast Conference journey by facing Louisville on the same day.