Duke's victory over North Carolina was a nail-biter. The Blue Devils led by a whopping 24 points.  The game was far from over.  North Carolina fought back, cutting the lead to just one point.  With 4. 1 seconds left, Ven-Allen Lubin had a chance to give the Tar Heels the lead.  He missed the first free throw.  The second was waved off due to a lane violation by teammate Jae'Lyn Withers.  This was a huge mistake.  Duke's Kon Knueppel made two free throws with 2. 8 seconds left, sealing the win.  Lubin's last-ditch 3-pointer missed the mark.  Duke won 74-71.  Duke's win was their third of the season against North Carolina.  This feat hasn't been achieved since the 2001-02 season.  The Blue Devils were without their star player, Cooper Flagg, and top reserve, Maliq Brown.  This shows their depth and resilience.  Duke's next challenge is against the winner of the Clemson-Louisville semifinal.

North Carolina showed grit and determination.  They fought back from a massive deficit.  They had a strong second half, scoring 15 of 24 field goals.  However, they lacked the size to match up with Duke.  The Tar Heels hope their performance will be enough to secure an NCAA Tournament berth.

Duke's victory was a testament to their strength and defense.  They showed they can win without their star players.  The Blue Devils' next game will be crucial.  They will face a tough opponent in the championship.  This game will determine their path to the NCAA Tournament.

Duke's Dominance: A Season of Triumphs

Actions