Duke makes late-game statement: 3 takeaways from the No. 9 Blue Devils' big win against No. 2 Auburn

Steve Wiseman, The News & Observer on Dec 5, 2024

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DURHAM, N.C. — Duke’s solid defense down the stretch earned it a big-time victory Wednesday night.

After No. 2 Auburn clawed back to within two points with just over five minutes to play, the Tigers didn’t hit another field goal for more than four minutes, allowing the No. 9 Blue Devils to hold on for an 84-78 win at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Freshman star Cooper Flagg produced a double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds for Duke (6-2) as he scored 16 in the second half. Flagg also led Duke in assists with four.

Duke freshman guard Isaiah Evans scored 18 points, all in the first half, when he made six 3-pointers. Tyrese Proctor scored 12 points and Caleb Foster added 11 off the bench for the Blue Devils, who shot 50% and made 9 of 22 3-pointers (41%).

Auburn (7-1) finished at 44% shooting as Johni Broome and Tahaad Pettiford scored 20 points each. Chad Baker-Mazara added 17 for the Tigers.

Duke led by as many as 12 points in the second half, before Pettiford’s basket with 5:06 to play trimmed the Blue Devils’ lead to 70-68. The Tigers didn’t make another field goal until the game’s final minute as they missed seven consecutive shots.

But Proctor scrambled to retrieve a loose ball and hit a long 3-pointer as the shot clock expired, pushing Duke’s lead to 73-68 at 4:33. Flagg hit two free throws at 3:55, giving Duke a 75-68 lead.

Here are three takeaways from the Duke win:

Evans dug Duke out of an early hole

Auburn made an early statement, jumping out to a 13-2 lead by making five shots in a row. The Tigers still led 15-10 when Evans entered the game for the first time at the 12:40 mark.

His impact was immediate and game-changing.

Between the 11:04 and 7:39 marks, Evans hit three 3-pointers to trim Auburn’s lead to 22-21.

When Evans hit his fourth 3-pointer at the 6:25 mark, he gave Duke its first lead of the night, 26-24.

But he wasn’t done.

Evans drilled another 3-pointer with 2:37 left, extending Duke’s lead to 37-33. His sixth 3-pointer of the half, with 58 seconds left, were the final points scored in the half and gave the Blue Devils a 43-36 halftime lead.

Fierce rebounding battle

The Blue Devils were strong early, holding a 24-15 halftime edge, but Auburn had the edge in the second half as it attempted to climb back from a 12-point deficit. The Tigers wound up having the overall edge, 39-34.

Over the season’s first seven games, Auburn had been solid in preventing teams from getting offensive rebounds. Tigers opponents had done so on just 25.4% of missed shots, which was No. 40 nationally according to KenPom.com.

But Duke grabbed eight offensive rebounds on its 17 missed shots in the first half, helping it gain its 24-15 overall rebounding edge at halftime.

The Tigers changed that in the second half, gaining 24 rebounds to Duke’s 10.

Yes, Auburn really can shoot it

Auburn entered the game No. 4 nationally in team field-goal percentage, having made 52.48% of its shots this season while sprinting to a 7-0 start.

After a red-hot start that fueled its 13-2 lead, the Tigers went cold the rest of the half. They finished 13 of 31 (41.9%) in the first half to trail Duke, 43-36.

Auburn found its groove after halftime, making 12 of its first 18 shots, to trail 68-66 with 6:11 to play before it went cold in the final five minutes.

Miles Kelly was among the Tigers’ best shooters, making 5 of 7 shots, including four 3-pointers. He enjoyed himself, jawing with Duke’s bench after sinking one of those 3-pointers in the first half and also hamming it up for the Cameron Crazies when he made other shots.

Pettiford finished 8 of 15, making 6 of 10 shots in the second half.