It doesn’t get too much sweeter for UNC fans than what they were treated to on Saturday night at the Dean Smith Center, as the third-ranked Tar Heels held off a late charge by the No. 4 Duke Blue Devils to win 79-70—completing the season sweep over their most hated rival on Senior Day.
The win also gave UNC (26-5, 16-2 ACC) a share of the ACC regular season championship with Virginia, which marks the 32nd time in program history it has accomplished the feat.
Although the night began as a celebration for the incredible senior class of Luke Maye, Kenny Williams and Cameron Johnson, it was freshman point guard Coby White who once again stole the spotlight.
Coby White had 21 points in UNC’s win over Duke on Saturday night, including 14 in the second half. (Todd Melet)
White tallied 14 of his team-high 21 points in the second half and helped the Tar Heels turn a two-point halftime deficit into a commanding 15-point lead with just under seven minutes remaining.
Anyone familiar with the rivalry, however, knew the Blue Devils would have an answer and of course they did.
Duke (26-5, 14-4 ACC) reeled off a 10-0 run to pull within five as it held the Tar Heels scoreless for nearly six minutes, but a key block from Williams on a three-pointer by star guard R.J. Barrett with 56 seconds left ended up leading to free throws on the other end that ultimately sealed the deal for head coach Roy Williams and company.
“I kept telling them, the game’s gonna be won on the defensive end of the floor,” Williams told reporters afterwards. “I said that every timeout in the second half.
“Their inability to score to close it from 75-70 was huge,” the coach added. “Because the only thing we were doing was taking bad shots.”
In addition to his late block, Kenny Williams was perhaps the most critical player for the Tar Heels over the whole 40 minutes. The Virginia native scored a season-high 18 points while also expending plenty of energy trying to guard Barrett on defense all game long.
The Tar Heels completed their first season sweep over Duke in 10 years on Senior Day for Kenny Williams, Luke Maye and Cameron Johnson. (Todd Melet)
His senior classmates also put together solid performances, with Cameron Johnson putting up 14 points and 10 rebounds and Luke Maye nearly posting a triple-double with seven points, 16 rebounds and seven assists.
With the chance to complete UNC’s first season sweep over Duke in 10 years–in front of a raucous home crowd in their final home game—this group did more than enough to go out with a bang.
“Believe it or not, the satisfaction I feel right now is not in beating Duke,” Roy Williams said. “The satisfaction I feel is seniors winning in their last home game. And the fact that it gives us [the ACC regular season title]. Then beating Duke is third. And that might not be what everybody likes to hear, but it’s the truth.”
Up Next:
UNC has a double bye in the ACC Tournament, and will begin its run as the No. 2 seed on Thursday at 7 p.m. against an opponent that will be determined based on games played on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Game Notes:
- On his third three-pointer of the game, Coby White surpassed the UNC freshman record for most threes made in a single season–passing Rashad McCants who made 72 back in 2002-03.
- Kenny Williams drew three charging fouls on Duke star freshman R.J. Barrett.
- Luke Maye’s seven assists represented a career high.
Cover photo via Todd Melet
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