DURHAM, N.C. — Shamorie Ponds smiled as he walked onto Coach K Court. Marvin Clark II slammed Cam Reddish onto its floor. Mustapha Heron repeatedly poked Zion Williamson in the chest.

St. John’s relished the rare opportunity to stand toe to toe with the most talented team in college basketball — and learned it isn’t close to standing on the same level as the country’s best.

After battling No. 2 Duke to a draw through most of Saturday’s first half, St. John’s ended up being bullied like an overwhelmed mid-major, unable to slow the power, speed and brilliance of Williamson and his fellow future lottery-pick teammates, who lit up St. John’s 91-61 at Cameron Indoor Arena.

“We knew what we were coming into,” Shamorie Ponds said. “That’s probably the best team in the country.”

And Williamson was the best player in the country, a non-stop highlight reel, justifying the decision-making of tanking NBA teams, as he dominated both ends of the court. He finished with 29 points (13-of-17 shooting), six rebounds, five steals and two blocks.

St. John’s (16-6, 4-5) never saw what its star could do.

Ponds, who scored 33 points in the Red Storm’s upset of Duke last season, was held scoreless in the first half and finished with 11 points (3-of-11 shooting) and five turnovers, struggling against the relentless defense of Tre Jones and a series of swarming double-teams as St. John’s lost for the fifth time in the past seven games.

“We told him, that kid Jones, that’s what he does,” said coach Chris Mullin, who next must plan for No. 10 Marquette. “If you’re careless, and not sharp, he’s going to expose you.”

Despite Duke (19-2) hitting seven of its first eight shots, St. John’s confidence didn’t crack, allowing it to overcome an early seven-point deficit and take a 21-19 lead.

Heron stood up to the nation’s most physically imposing player and helped limit Williamson to two points through eight minutes despite giving up 65 pounds in the matchup. Clark scored 12 early points and offered his own attempt at intimidation, getting called for a flagrant foul.

“I didn’t want to give them anything easy,” Clark said. “I wanted to foul them hard, show them that we’re here trying to give a presence.”

The presence was felt. Nearly 17 minutes passed, and Ponds held the ball, with a chance to put St. John’s in front. Then came the always-looming avalanche.

Jones stripped Ponds and finished the fast-break. Williamson erased the other nine players from the court and went on a personal 10-4 run.

Mike Krzyzewski slapped the floor. Williamson screamed. St. John’s was staggering, suddenly trailing 47-37 at halftime.

“I was proud of the first half,” Clark said. “We competed with them neck and neck, answered everything they had to say, but the live-ball turnovers got them going and got the crowd into it.”

A cut was opened. There was no stopping the bleeding.

Barely four minutes into the second half, the Blue Devils were in the midst of a 16-0 run and en route to their 147th consecutive non-conference home win since falling to the Red Storm 19 years ago.

The turnovers piled up. The dunks kept coming. Cameron got crazier. The lead ballooned to 32.

“Especially with a team like them, when they get out like that, that can definitely break another team’s spirit,” Heron said. “And I think it broke our spirit a little bit.”

Still, Mike Krzyzewski said he expects St. John’s to be in much better spirits come Selection Sunday.

“They definitely are [an NCAA Tournament team],” the Duke coach said. “They have to win some games like everyone else, but yes, they are a big-time team and they can beat anybody.”

Well, almost anybody.