In a highly anticipated matchup, No. 9 Duke secured an 84-78 victory over No. 2 Auburn in the SEC/ACC Challenge on Wednesday night. Freshman standout Cooper Flagg delivered an impressive performance with 22 points and 11 rebounds, helping the Blue Devils improve to a 6-2 record for the season.
Despite a strong showing from Auburn's Johni Broome, who recorded 20 points and 12 rebounds before fouling out late in the game, the Tigers (7-1) struggled to convert crucial shots down the stretch. Duke capitalized on Auburn's scoring drought, maintaining a lead in front of their enthusiastic home crowd.
While the SEC dominated the interconference series with a 14-2 overall record, Duke and Clemson were the only ACC teams to secure victories. Auburn, previously vying for the No. 1 ranking after a successful showing at the Maui Invitational, faced a setback following their loss to Duke.
Trailing by 11 points early in the game, Duke mounted a comeback and displayed resilience throughout the matchup. A key moment came when Tyrese Proctor sank a critical 3-pointer to extend Duke's lead to 73-68 with 4:30 remaining, shifting the momentum in their favor.
Notable contributions also came from freshman guard Isaiah Evans, who unexpectedly scored 18 points in the first half, providing a significant spark off the bench for Duke. Despite not scoring in the second half, Evans' early performance proved instrumental in Duke's victory.
Looking ahead, Auburn will face Richmond in their upcoming game, while Duke is set to open Atlantic Coast Conference play against Louisville on Sunday. The Blue Devils will aim to build on their recent success and continue their winning streak in conference competition.
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