DURHAM, N.C. — On Wednesday night, Duke faced a formidable challenge in Auburn, a team they may encounter again at the Final Four in San Antonio.

The ninth-ranked Blue Devils absorbed everything that the second-ranked Tigers threw at them and responded with the resilience needed to defeat previously unbeaten Auburn, winning 84-78 at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

This victory improved Duke’s record to 6-2 and leveled their performance against ranked opponents at 2-2, while Auburn suffered their first loss of the season, dropping to 7-1.

Cooper Flagg led the charge for Duke with 22 points, followed by Isaiah Evans with 18 points, Tyrese Proctor contributing 12 points, and Caleb Foster scoring 11. For Auburn, Johni Broome and Tahaad Pettiford each scored 20 points, among four Tigers who reached double digits.

Here are some key takeaways from Duke’s victory over Auburn in the ACC/SEC Challenge.

Cooper Flagg’s performance against Auburn

Duke’s freshman standout Cooper Flagg, a candidate for the top pick in the 2025 NBA draft, didn’t have his best shooting night but delivered in other areas with a solid double-double. He matched Auburn’s intensity by finishing with 22 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, three steals, and two blocks.

Sion James celebrates his birthday

On his 22nd birthday, Sion James took a physical toll but kept getting back up for the Blue Devils. In his first start of the season, James showcased his strength with a one-handed dunk early in the second half, despite being fouled. He wrapped up the game with nine points, four rebounds, two blocks, and three steals.

Isaiah Evans’ outstanding 3-point shooting

Isaiah Evans had a phenomenal first half against Auburn. Although he did miss two three-point attempts, he nailed six, leading to 18 points in just 11 minutes off the bench. His shooting surge helped Duke secure a 43-36 lead by halftime.