The Duke Blue Devils are headed to the ACC Tournament Championship Game after a thrilling 74-71 victory over their longtime rivals, the North Carolina Tar Heels. The semifinal battle at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte was a game of two halves, with Duke dominating early before North Carolina mounted a dramatic comeback.
Duke’s Commanding First Half
The intensity of college basketball’s most famous rivalry was on full display, and Duke wasted no time establishing control. They stormed to a 45-24 halftime lead, fueled by stifling defense and sharp offensive execution. Kon Knueppel led the charge with 17 points, sinking three key three-pointers, while Patrick Ngongba II and Khaman Maluach anchored the paint with strong inside play.
Duke’s defense was relentless, shutting out North Carolina for the final 5:03 of the first half. A dominant 15-0 run left the Tar Heels struggling to respond. As both teams headed to the locker room, Duke seemed poised for a comfortable victory.
North Carolina’s Determined Fightback
Desperate to keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive, North Carolina refused to back down. The Tar Heels opened the second half with a 9-0 run, spearheaded by junior forward Ven-Allen Lubin and sophomore guard Elliot Cadeau. By the 10-minute mark, they had trimmed Duke’s once-24-point advantage to just 15.
The pressure mounted as the game neared its conclusion. North Carolina closed the gap to four, 70-66, after a crucial seven-point burst following the final media timeout. With under 10 seconds left, Lubin had a chance to tie or take the lead at the free-throw line. However, he missed his first shot, and a lane violation by Jae-Lyn Withers wiped out his second attempt, handing Duke possession.
Knueppel and Duke Secure the Victory
With UNC unable to complete their comeback, Duke sealed the win from the free-throw line. Knueppel calmly sank two clutch free throws in the closing moments to secure the Blue Devils’ place in the championship. Along with his 17 points, he led Duke with three assists. Maluach contributed 13 points and nine rebounds, while Ngongba had a career-best 12 points on a perfect 6-for-6 shooting night.
Eyes on the ACC Championship
With this victory, Duke (30-3) advances to the ACC Tournament final, where they will take on either the Clemson Tigers or the Louisville Cardinals. The Blue Devils aim to maintain their strong form and claim the tournament title, with the championship game set for 8:30 p.m. on ESPN. Meanwhile, North Carolina’s postseason fate remains uncertain as they await Selection Sunday to determine their NCAA T
ournament standing.
