In what could be his final collegiate game, UNC star attackman Chris Gray etched his name in NCAA lore, breaking the all-time points record by tallying six against Duke on Sunday. He now has 401 career points, surpassing the previous mark held by Albany’s Lyle Thompson.

Still, Gray’s efforts weren’t enough, as Carolina fell to the Blue Devils 19-11 in the regular-season finale.

The Tar Heels led 7-5 late in the second quarter, but proceeded to give up a backbreaking 9-0 run from the Blue Devils, one which extended into the final seconds of the third quarter. The game was essentially over when Gray scored the record-breaking goal, which came with 7:23 left in the game and made the score 17-9 in favor of Duke.

The Blue Devils outscored UNC 8-0 in the third quarter and 13-4 in the second half. Gray led Carolina in goals and assists with three each for his six points, but no other Tar Heel scored more than three points. The loss dropped UNC’s overall record to 8-6, and its ACC record to 1-5 on the season. With no ACC Tournament in men’s lacrosse, Carolina is likely on the outside looking in for this month’s NCAA Tournament.

“It means everything to me that I was able to play at UNC,” Gray said after the game. “The hardest part will be taking the jersey off and never putting it back on. I am so fortunate to have ended up in a great place like Chapel Hill… it’s truly been the greatest three years of my life.”

“Gray is an amazing young man and a phenomenal person,” said head coach Joe Breschi. “He has done everything we have asked him to do and more. My heart goes out to the seniors who did everything they could to put us in a position to keep playing potentially. It’s hard to put this season into words at the moment. This year, we had our ups and downs, but our guys fought like hell, and that’s all I can ask from them.”

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Anthony Sorbellini

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