Top Ranked Duke Takes On Eighth Ranked Auburn In The Semifinals Of The Maui Jim Maui Invitational

Two teams that are ranked in the AP Top 25 poll and unbeaten will collide on Tuesday night when top ranked Duke who is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference meets eighth ranked Auburn out of the Southeastern Conference in the semifinals of the Maui Jim Maui Invitational.

Duke comes into the game with a record of 4-0 “according to http://www.goduke.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=4200&SPID=1845&SPSID=22726 while Auburn also comes into the game with a record of 4-0. “according to https://auburntigers.com/schedule.aspx?path=mbball

As for how Duke got to the semifinals of the Maui Jim Maui Invitational they defeated San Diego State.

R.J. Barrett scored 20 points, Cam Reddish added 16 and top-ranked Duke remained undefeated at the Maui Invitational with a 90-64 rout over San Diego State. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211781288

The Blue Devils (4-0) shot 52 percent, made 10 of 25 from 3-point range and improved to 16-0 in Maui while earning a spot in Tuesday's semifinals against No. 8 Auburn. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211781288

Duke has been the talk of college basketball since its highly-touted freshmen shot the season out of a canon with a blowout win over then-No. 2 Kentucky. The five-time Maui champion Blue Devils arrived in paradise the favorites and played like it against the Aztecs (2-1). “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211781288

Despite front-court foul trouble in the first half -- Zion Williamson played seven minutes -- Duke took control with an 11-0 run and led 49-32 by halftime behind Barrett's 16 points. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211781288

The Blue Devils kept the runaway going with an early 8-0 run in the second half, building the lead to 71-46 on Williamson's breakaway windmill dunk. Williamson had 13 points in 18 minutes. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211781288

As for how Auburn got to the semifinals of the Maui Jim Maui Invitational they needed overtime to put away Xavier.

Jared Harper and Bryce Brown combined for 51 points to lead No. 8 Auburn past Xavier 88-79 in overtime Monday in the opening game of the Maui Jim Maui Invitational. “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2018/11/19/mens-basketball-harper-brown-lead-no-8-tigers-past-xavier-in-overtime.aspx

"A great win for our program," Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said. “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2018/11/19/mens-basketball-harper-brown-lead-no-8-tigers-past-xavier-in-overtime.aspx

Harper scored 25 points with eight assists and six rebounds. Brown led the Tigers with 26 points, adding five assists and four rebounds. “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2018/11/19/mens-basketball-harper-brown-lead-no-8-tigers-past-xavier-in-overtime.aspx

"We rely on each other," Pearl said. "We won the game because in the overtime period, in deep foul trouble, we had some guys step up and make plays. But we don't even get in that situation without Jared and Bryce.”according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2018/11/19/mens-basketball-harper-brown-lead-no-8-tigers-past-xavier-in-overtime.aspx

"They're a terrific backcourt. You can see the difference that experience makes. The difference was their outstanding play." “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2018/11/19/mens-basketball-harper-brown-lead-no-8-tigers-past-xavier-in-overtime.aspx

Harper's drive-and-dunk in OT ignited his teammates and the sizeable contingent of Auburn fans in attendance in Hawaii, putting Auburn ahead 80-77. “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2018/11/19/mens-basketball-harper-brown-lead-no-8-tigers-past-xavier-in-overtime.aspx

"That might be No. 1 right there," said Harper, ranking his dunk minutes later on the ESPN2 broadcast. “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2018/11/19/mens-basketball-harper-brown-lead-no-8-tigers-past-xavier-in-overtime.aspx

With Auburn leading 81-79, Harper drove and made another huge basket to give Auburn a two-possession lead with 1:03 remaining. “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2018/11/19/mens-basketball-harper-brown-lead-no-8-tigers-past-xavier-in-overtime.aspx

After Austin Wiley and Anfernee McLemore fouled out late in regulation, Horace Spencer delivered in overtime, making rebounds and a key steal. Spencer finished with five rebounds in 19 minutes. “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2018/11/19/mens-basketball-harper-brown-lead-no-8-tigers-past-xavier-in-overtime.aspx

"Him being one of our senior leaders," Harper said. "He's sacrificed a lot for the team. He comes off the bench. Being a senior, he probably wants to start, but he's done a lot for us, just knowing that he can impact the game." “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2018/11/19/mens-basketball-harper-brown-lead-no-8-tigers-past-xavier-in-overtime.aspx

Chuma Okeke scored 13 points and Wiley added 11. “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2018/11/19/mens-basketball-harper-brown-lead-no-8-tigers-past-xavier-in-overtime.aspx


Auburn led 42-31 after Okeke's steal and slam 3 minutes into the second half to cap a 9-0 run. “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2018/11/19/mens-basketball-harper-brown-lead-no-8-tigers-past-xavier-in-overtime.aspx

Xavier made 19 of 20 free throws in the second half, including a game-tying pair with 26 seconds left. “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2018/11/19/mens-basketball-harper-brown-lead-no-8-tigers-past-xavier-in-overtime.aspx

Auburn had a chance to win in regulation, but Brown's contested 15-foot jumper did not fall. “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2018/11/19/mens-basketball-harper-brown-lead-no-8-tigers-past-xavier-in-overtime.aspx

"We just know that we were going to go through adversity during this tournament every day," Harper said. "Through our ups and downs, we have to stay together as a team." “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2018/11/19/mens-basketball-harper-brown-lead-no-8-tigers-past-xavier-in-overtime.aspx

Auburn led 33-28 at the half. The Tigers used a 10-0 run to build a 12-point lead before Xavier narrowed the gap before intermission. “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2018/11/19/mens-basketball-harper-brown-lead-no-8-tigers-past-xavier-in-overtime.aspx

Brown led the Tigers with 13 in the half, while Okeke grabbed seven rebounds. “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2018/11/19/mens-basketball-harper-brown-lead-no-8-tigers-past-xavier-in-overtime.aspx

Ryan Welage scored 17 to lead five Xavier players in double figures. “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2018/11/19/mens-basketball-harper-brown-lead-no-8-tigers-past-xavier-in-overtime.aspx

By playing first, the Tigers earned a chance to scout the top-ranked Blue Devils while resting for their next game 27 hours later.

"I feel like we're more ready than anybody," said Brown, who played 42 minutes, one fewer than Harper's game-high 43. "We have an extremely deep team. I feel like, with guards and the bigs, we have a lot of depth." “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2018/11/19/mens-basketball-harper-brown-lead-no-8-tigers-past-xavier-in-overtime.aspx

Pearl credited Harper and Brown for leading the Tigers on the big stage of college basketball's elite pre-conference tournament.”according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2018/11/19/mens-basketball-harper-brown-lead-no-8-tigers-past-xavier-in-overtime.aspx

"These guys are in the gym all the time," Pearl said. "They're in the gym with my assistant coaches and with their dads. They just have paid the price. They came to Auburn to train. They came to Auburn to make history. They came to Auburn when Auburn wasn't very good. It's all about the players. It's all about them, not about the coach. “according to https://auburntigers.com/news/2018/11/19/mens-basketball-harper-brown-lead-no-8-tigers-past-xavier-in-overtime.aspx

Tip-off is set for 8:00pm from Lahaina Center. The game will be televised on ESPN. “according to http://www.goduke.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=4200&SPID=1845&SPSID=22726