DURHAM, N.C. — So this is what it looks like when Duke puts all the pieces together, right?

Because there is the Final Four contender we’ve been waiting for.

After late-game errors doomed the Blue Devils in two of their first three high-profile non-conference games – a five-point loss to Kentucky in the Champions Classic and a three-point loss to Kansas in Las Vegas last week – Wednesday night was a home game Facing undefeated Auburn was Duke’s chance to rewrite history. To flip the script. To prove that Jon Scheyer’s rookie-studded team, rebuilt this offseason around 17-year-old superstar Cooper Flagg, had learned from its mistakes and that it is did have what it takes to compete with another national title contender.

No. 9 Duke 84, No. 2 Auburn 78.

Consider this a point proven.

“We have shown growth,” said Scheyer. “We learned from some of these other games we played in.”

Aided by five-star freshman Isaiah Evans’ career-high 18 points – all scored in the first half – Duke prevailed over the Tigers to earn one of only two ACC victories in this year’s ACC-SEC Challenge. (Clemson also beat Kentucky late Tuesday night, meaning both of the ACC’s wins came against undefeated top-five teams.) But the overarching takeaway from Wednesday? This was the kind of statement, a resume-setting win that Scheyer’s team desperately needed — and further validation of Flagg as one of college basketball’s best players, regardless of age. The 1.90 meter tall winger scored 16 of his game-high 22 points in the second half, along with 11 rebounds, four steals, three assists, two blocks and no turnovers. “I’m not sure how many 17-year-olds could play in this game, let alone do what he did,” Scheyer said of Flagg. “He had a special toughness about him.”

That last point is as important as ever and should silence some of the questions that have dogged Flagg since his late slips against both Kentucky and Kansas. He had two turnovers – with the game tied – in the final minute against Kentucky, which marred his otherwise excellent play, and also another late exit against Kansas.

“Since those two games, it hurts in the back of my mind and burns every time I think about it,” Flagg said. “I wish I could just win those possessions back, so not having any turnovers tonight is huge for me.”

And while Flagg’s excellence will be one of the stories of the night, it’s also worth repeating that in a matchup between KenPom’s top-ranked offense (Auburn) and its top-ranked defense (Duke), the latter prevailed. This also reinforces Scheyer’s preseason belief – and a broader roster-building philosophy – that expects the Blue Devils to become one of the toughest defenses in college basketball.

All in all, though, Auburn was on the attack early, going on a 13-2 run that forced an irate Scheyer to call a timeout less than four minutes into the game. You can understand Scheyer’s frustration; The Tigers had made five of their six shots to that point – four of them assisted – completely outclassing his top-notch defense.

“We didn’t stop the entire time,” said Scheyer.

So what did Scheyer say in this round? Quite simply: “Play defense.” Apparently it was well received. Duke immediately went on its own 13-3 run, holding Auburn’s offense to over three consecutive scoreless minutes and to just 1 of 9 shooting immediately afterward. This included keeping Johni Broome, who entered the game as the leading candidate for National Player of the Year, firmly in check; Fresh off being named MVP of the Maui Invitational, Broome had just five points in the first half, missing seven of his nine attempts.

“He had some shots that he normally takes at a better rate,” Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said, “but obviously Duke has great length and made the effort and changed some shots.”

Finally, a top-notch defense emerged – and so did a 6-foot-2 freshman, Evans, who didn’t play a single minute against Kentucky or Kansas.

The former five-star recruit entered the game with 12:39 minutes to play and promptly provided the one thing Duke desperately needed: shooting. He made a 3-pointer from a pindown and then two more in 47 seconds — the latter making it a one-point game and forcing Pearl to call a timeout. But at this point, no whistle would quell Cameron Indoor – or apparently slow Evans down.

Because these three triples were just the beginning of his groundbreaking performance. It was actually his fourth three-pointer of the first half (of six later) that finally got Duke over the hump and gave the Blue Devils their first lead with 6:27 to go until halftime. “I was like, OK, yeah, Showtime,” Evans said. “I’m hot.” ​​This basket came as part of a larger 15-2 Duke run…. to which Auburn — or more specifically, freshman guard Tahaad Pettiford — quickly responded with the Tigers’ five-star first-year senior hitting two deep 3s of his own. But the final four minutes before halftime belonged to Duke, which used an 11-4 run to build a seven-point halftime lead.

That was part of a larger 15-2 Duke run … to which Auburn – or more specifically, freshman guard Tahaad Pettiford – quickly responded with the Tigers’ five-star first-year senior hitting two deep 3s of his own. But the final four minutes before halftime belonged to Duke, which used an 11-4 run to build a seven-point halftime lead.

But against the best offense in the country, that lead would never be nearly enough. And Although Duke extended its lead to 12 in the first few minutes after halftime, Auburn eventually hit back with a 14-4 run of its own, putting the Tigers within striking distance for the rest of the game.

Pearl put Broome – who scored 15 of his eventual 20 goals in the second half – on the short throw while his best player was already rushing toward the basket. And Pettiford was great again, personally scoring on three straight possessions as Duke pushed its lead to double digits. His fourth three-pointer with 8:58 to play cut the deficit to four — and even when he picked up his fourth personal foul less than 30 seconds later, Pearl retained his five-star freshman — whose 20 points tied Broome for the Tigers . Points lead – in the game. He couldn’t afford not to.

And the game was mostly in that four, five point window after that. Pettiford’s teardrop floater with 5:06 to play made it a two-point game, and Auburn blocked Cooper Flagg on the other end…only to give up the offensive rebound to Tyrese Proctor, who fired a borderline Logo 3 as the shot clock expired extend the lead back to five. Scheyer, hunched over on the sideline, spread his arms as the scene around him spiraled out of control, mouthing the words every Duke fan surely felt: “Let’s go.”

Auburn didn’t score another field goal for more than three and a half minutes, while Proctor made another crucial turnaround jumper with 3:05 to play that pushed the lead back to seven.

Ultimately, Duke’s defense prevailed, just as Scheyer had prepared in the preseason.

“I knew we had something with this group,” Scheyer said. “We still have a lot of work to do, but for me, Auburn is as tough as any. They’re just as experienced as anyone … and I thought we made the tough plays to win.”

He always imagined that his team could play games like this and win – and after Wednesday it finally happened.

Required reading

(Photo: Lance King/Getty Images)