CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Dean E. Smith Center was electric on Saturday night as the North Carolina Tar Heels pulled off one of the most dramatic victories in the storied history of their rivalry with the Duke Blue Devils. In the 266th meeting between these two basketball titans, it was No. 14 UNC that stunned No. 4 Duke, 71-68, thanks to a buzzer-beating three-pointer from Seth Trimble with just 0.4 seconds remaining. The win snapped a three-game losing streak to the Blue Devils and breathed new life into the Tar Heels’ ACC campaign.
Fans who couldn’t make it to Chapel Hill had plenty of ways to follow the action. Radio coverage began at 5 p.m. on 97.9 FM and 1360 AM, with Brighton McConnell hosting “Countdown to Tip-Off.” Jones Angell and the Tar Heel Sports Network took over pregame duties before tip-off at 6:30 p.m., and ESPN carried the national television broadcast, ensuring fans across the country could witness this chapter of the Tobacco Road rivalry. For those who cut the cord, streaming options like YouTube TV, Hulu TV, and Sling TV provided access to the ESPN family of channels.
The anticipation had been building all day, with ESPN College GameDay broadcasting live from the Smith Center at 10 a.m. Fans packed the arena early, creating a raucous atmosphere worthy of college basketball’s greatest rivalry. Both teams entered the contest with impressive credentials: UNC riding a four-game win streak, including a recent 87-77 triumph over Syracuse, and Duke boasting a 10-game winning run, their only blemish a December loss to Texas Tech.
The Blue Devils came out firing, jumping to a 14-5 lead in the opening minutes and extending their advantage to double digits. Duke dominated the glass in the first half, out-rebounding the Tar Heels 22-11 and holding UNC to just 33% shooting. Cameron Boozer, Duke’s national player of the year candidate, was relentless, scoring 15 of his game-high 24 points in the second half and finishing with his 12th double-double of the season. Dame Sarr chipped in 13 points on perfect shooting, and Patrick Ngongba made his presence felt before fouling out late.
But North Carolina refused to fold. Freshman Caleb Wilson, already projected as a top NBA draft pick, kept the Tar Heels within striking distance with a dazzling 23-point performance—17 coming before halftime. Wilson’s explosive scoring, including an 11-point burst in under three minutes, helped UNC trim a 13-point deficit. Henri Veesaar, held scoreless in the first half, came alive after the break, pouring in all 13 of his points and grabbing 11 rebounds to notch a crucial double-double.
Every time UNC threatened, Duke responded, pushing their lead back to 12 at the break and holding a six-point cushion with just under three minutes left. With the clock winding down, the Blue Devils looked poised to extend their dominance in the rivalry—especially after last season’s sweep and recent success in Chapel Hill. But the Tar Heels had other ideas.
The comeback began with a Derek Dixon three-pointer, bringing UNC within striking distance. Henri Veesaar followed with a clutch triple of his own, tying the game at 68 with just over a minute to play. The Smith Center crowd could sense something special brewing. After a defensive stand forced a tough miss from Boozer, UNC corralled the rebound and called timeout with 10.6 seconds left, setting the stage for the most memorable moment of the night.
Hubert Davis, the Tar Heels’ head coach, drew up a play designed to free up his shooters. As the seconds ticked away, Dixon found Trimble in the corner. With ice in his veins, Trimble launched a three-pointer over the outstretched arms of the Duke defense. The ball splashed through the net with just 0.4 seconds left—UNC’s first lead of the entire game. The Smith Center erupted, fans stormed the court in premature celebration, and security had to clear the floor for one last Blue Devil possession. Duke’s final heave was off the mark, sealing the Tar Heels’ epic 71-68 victory.
“We just kept believing,” said Trimble, who finished with 16 points. “Coach told us we’d get a shot, and when the ball found me, I knew I had to let it fly.”
Caleb Wilson, reflecting on the comeback, added, “This is what Carolina basketball is all about—never giving up, fighting for every possession, and trusting your teammates. The crowd gave us so much energy, and we fed off it.”
The magnitude of the win can’t be overstated. UNC trailed for 99.6 percent of the game and only led for the final 0.4 seconds. The 13-point comeback marked their largest over Duke in the last 25 years. The Tar Heels’ 9-0 run to close the game, capped by three consecutive three-pointers, will be replayed for years to come in highlight reels and rivalry retrospectives.
For Duke, the loss was a gut punch. The Blue Devils had controlled the tempo, dominated the paint, and looked every bit the No. 4 team in the nation for most of the night. Boozer’s 24 points and 12 rebounds led the way, but his missed layup in the final minute opened the door for UNC’s heroics. “We had our chances,” Boozer admitted. “But credit to Carolina—they made the plays when it mattered most.”
The victory improves UNC’s record to 19-4 overall and 7-3 in ACC play, while Duke falls to 21-2 and 10-1 in the conference. The all-time series now stands at 146-120 in favor of the Tar Heels. Both teams remain firmly in the hunt for the ACC title and will meet again on March 7 in Durham—a rematch already circled on every college basketball fan’s calendar.
Looking ahead, UNC travels to Miami for a tough road test on February 10, while Duke faces Pitt on the same night. With both teams featuring future NBA stars and championship aspirations, the season’s second showdown promises to be just as thrilling.
Saturday’s game will go down as another classic in the UNC-Duke rivalry—a contest defined by momentum swings, individual brilliance, and a finish that left fans breathless. For now, Chapel Hill is celebrating a victory that will be remembered for generations, and the Tar Heels have proven once again that in college basketball’s greatest rivalry, anything is possible.