Kon Knueppel led with 17 points, while Tyrese Proctor and Sion James each contributed 16 as No. 2 Duke rallied from a seven-point deficit in the second half to defeat rival North Carolina 82-69 in Chapel Hill, N.C. The victory secured the outright regular-season championship in the Atlantic Coast Conference for Duke. Cooper Flagg, despite early foul trouble, chipped in 15 points to help the Blue Devils secure a crucial road win and complete a two-game series sweep. The win avoided a potential three-way tie and secured Duke the second seed for the upcoming ACC tournament. RJ Davis led the scoring for North Carolina with 20 points, supported by Ven-Allen Lubin with 11 points. The Tar Heels, in need of a quality win for their NCAA Tournament hopes, saw their six-game winning streak come to an end. Duke’s decisive 22-5 run in the second half turned the tide of the game, propelling them to a comfortable lead. Maliq Brown returned from injury to make key contributions during the crucial stretch. Despite turnovers, Duke’s efficient shooting helped secure the win. North Carolina fought back from a big deficit but ultimately fell short. The first half saw a tight battle, with Duke narrowly leading at halftime. The game saw intense action, with Flagg stepping up despite foul trouble early on.
