LAHAINA >> Experience still matters in college basketball, and on Maui.

Gonzaga, a team constructed of upperclassmen, veterans and transfers, was the match made for Duke and its staggeringly talented youth movement in Wednesday’s championship game of the Maui Jim Maui Invitational.

The third-ranked Zags could be the new No. 1 team in the country come Monday after taking down the top-ranked Blue Devils, 89-87, in a thrilling conclusion to a tournament billed as the strongest in the storied 35-year history of the event.

Duke used to be the team that would beat the one-and-dones of the world with developed, third- and fourth-year players.

That tradition has flipped, with legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski embracing constant talent transfusion. This season, the ACC power brought in the Nos. 1 through 3 national recruits — and possible top three NBA Draft picks in June — in R.J. Barrett, Zion Williamson and Cam Reddish.

It mattered not to the fired-up Zags, who won the Wayne Duke Trophy for the second time (2009). Five-time Maui champ Duke took its first Maui loss (17-1).

“I thought emotionally they were more ready than we were,” Krzyzewski said. “And that’s something that you learn. You have to learn that by being in these situations. We were ready to play but we weren’t as emotionally ready to play as we needed to be.”

Rui Hachimura, Gonzaga’s 6-foot-8 junior forward from Japan, appeared genuinely surprised when he was announced as tournament MVP after putting up a sublime line of 20 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three blocks.

“I didn’t know what they were talking about,” said Hachimura, a rising draft prospect in his own right, as assembled media chuckled.

Hachimura blocked shots by point guard Tre Jones and Barrett in the final minute, and Brandon Clarke swatted Barrett on his final drive in the waning seconds to preserve the lead after Hachimura and Clarke missed four free throws that could’ve iced it.

“He switched on me and then he tried to play one-on-one against me,” Hachimura said. “And then I was like, OK, let’s do it. … We’re the best team in the country and I’m going to be like, you know, I’m the best player too, so I have to guard him.”

That was music to Gonzaga coach Mark Few’s ears.

“Amen, brother. Now you’re getting the message,” Few said.

Gonzaga, which rallied to defeat Illinois and Arizona on Monday and Tuesday, played progressively better over the course of the three-day tournament, while No. 1 Duke was increasingly tested.

Duke’s dynasty was threatened from the jump a day after the Blue Devils had trouble putting away No. 8 Auburn. The Devils allowed the Zags to shoot 65 percent in the first half, fell behind by 16, and spent considerable energy in the final 10 minutes rallying furiously.

Duke tied it up at 87 on a Williamson basket with 1:41 left, but Hachimura responded with a strong post move and scored the winning points inside.

Barrett had some impressive finishes, but shot 9-for-25 and was blocked five times. The freakishly athletic, 6-6, 285-pound Williamson rumbled his way to 22 points and 10 boards.

Gonzaga fourth-year junior Brandon Clarke contributed 17 points on 7-for-10 shooting and blocked six shots. Third-year sophomore Zach Norvell Jr. hit four 3s among his 18 points. And point guard Josh Perkins, a fifth-year senior, was a steadying presence (nine points, seven assists) going against the unflappable Jones (17 points).

“Experience plays a big role in this,” Norvell said. “Perkins, with him being one of the top guards in the country, him controlling the pace of the game was huge for us. We came down the stretch and got some stops, we knew we were winning it on the defensive end.”

Impressively, Gonzaga did it all without injured big man Killian Tillie, one of their best players who should return for West Coast Conference play.

“They’re strong, they’re old, and they’re unselfish and they play their butts off,” Krzyzewski said.