No. 1 Duke broke open what had been a five-point game at halftime with a smothering defensive performance in the second half, pulling away from UNC for a 76-61 win in the regular-season finale in Durham Saturday night.

With Caleb Wilson sidelined after breaking his right thumb in practice during the week, the Carolina offense could not break through the Blue Devil defense. The Tar Heels had cut the halftime deficit to just one point at 41-40, but Duke used a dominant 24-2 run in the middle of the second half to bury Carolina in a 71-46 hole. In addition, the Tar Heels committed 14 turnovers, which led to 24 Duke points. UNC only managed four points off Duke’s eight turnovers. Duke also dominated the glass in the second half, outrebounding Carolina 24-10 in the final 20 minutes.

“They just played with a lot more effort,” said senior guard Seth Trimble. “When that happens and you’re on the road in a venue like Duke, it’s gonna be hard to win.”

Trimble finished with 10 points and a team-high six assists in his final road game against the Blue Devils. Derek Dixon led the way for Carolina with 17 points and five made three-pointers. For Duke, Cameron Boozer dominated with 26 points, 15 rebounds and five assists.

Henri Veesaar scored 11 points and added nine rebounds, but the seven-footer was held in check as Duke ran away with the game in the second half. After scoring nine points on six shots in the first half, Veesaar managed only two points on one shot in the second.

“They did a really good job… guarding the pick-and-rolls,” Veesaar said afterward. “We couldn’t get the ball out. We got no advantage in screens. That’s something we have to work on.”

Duke’s Maliq Brown played a key role in guarding Veesaar on defense, and the Syracuse transfer added 15 points and nine rebounds on his senior night.

UNC ends the regular season with a 24-7 overall record and 12-6 mark in ACC play. The Tar Heels will be back in action Thursday night as the No. 4 seed in the ACC Tournament in Charlotte. Their quarterfinal matchup is scheduled to tip off at 9:30 p.m.

 

Featured image via Associated Press/Ben McKeown

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.

Related Stories
‹
UNC's Caleb Wilson Declares for 2026 NBA Draft
UNC star freshman Caleb Wilson will forgo his remaining college eligibility and enter the 2026 NBA Draft, he announced on social media Friday night. Wilson’s announcement comes less than a week after the university dismissed Hubert Davis as the head coach of the men’s basketball program. View this post on Instagram Wilson finished his freshman […]
Lloyd, May or Donovan? Pros and Cons of 3 Candidates for the UNC Men's Basketball Head Coaching Job
As UNC continues to search for its next men’s basketball head coach, three names which have been floated as prime candidates for the job are Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd, Michigan head coach Dusty May and Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan. All three men have had ringing success on the college stage, but there […]
Chansky's Notebook: In Others' Hands
Since his first year as UNC head coach, Hubert Davis has failed to meet the program’s lofty standards over the past four seasons.
The Signs Were There for a UNC Men's Basketball Collapse. Against VCU, It Finally Happened.
UNC's 2025-26 season came crashing down around it Thursday night in Greenville, as the Tar Heels blew a 19-point lead in the second half.
UNC Men's Basketball Left to Pick Up the Pieces Following Shattering NCAA Tournament Loss
The UNC locker room was quiet. Some players sat with their heads in their hands. Some had red and puffy eyes. Others simply sat with blank looks, seemingly unable to fully grasp what they had just seen. That goes for all of us. The Tar Heels let a 19-point lead with 15 minutes remaining slip […]
UNC Men's Basketball Blows 19-Point Lead, Falls to VCU in NCAA Tournament 1st Round
Despite leading 56-37 in the second half, UNC fell 82-78 to No. 11 seed VCU in overtime in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Thursday in Greenville. Carolina’s season is over. UNC had led for more than 34 minutes of game action, taking control after the Rams led 18-17 midway through the first half. […]
UNC Men's Basketball in the 2026 NCAA Tournament: How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Tip-Off Times
UNC will begin its NCAA Tournament journey Thursday in Greenville, S.C. when it faces No. 11 seed VCU in the first round. It will be the first ever meeting between the Tar Heels and Rams in men’s basketball. If you aren’t going to Greenville with the team, here’s how you can follow along at home: […]
UNC Men's Basketball NCAA Tournament Opponent Breakdown: VCU
No. 6 seed UNC will begin its NCAA Tournament journey Thursday in Greenville, S.C. when it faces No. 11 seed VCU in the first round. The Rams enter the field with a 27-7 overall record and 15-3 mark in the Atlantic 10. They defeated Duquesne, St. Joseph’s and Dayton to win their second consecutive Atlantic […]
Chansky's Notebook: Recalibrating
If Hubert Davis is to be believed, UNC is recapturing its toughness at the right time as the NCAA Tournament looms.
Chansky's Notebook: Back to Greenville
UNC’s late-season slide may have lucked it into a shorter road trip, as the Tar Heels traveled to Greenville yesterday.
›