A comeback victory for the ages over the Duke Blue Devils on Saturday led to UNC men’s basketball fans taking to social media to celebrate.
No. 14 UNC earned the 71-68 win off a buzzer-beating three-pointer by senior guard Seth Trimble, capping a 9-0 run in the closing minutes to take the lead and send the Dean Smith Center into a frenzy. The win is Carolina’s first over their rivals since 2024 and broke a 364-day stretch of Duke going undefeated against ACC opponents.
Moments after Trimble’s shot went through the net, fans rushed to social media to post their jubilation about the team’s comeback performance. The shot, which was the senior’s first buzzer beater in his collegiate career, immediately became a moment many fans recognized as an all-time play.
After Trimble’s shot, some fans prematurely stormed the Roy Williams Court. Stadium security had to clear the area and return people to their seats as 0.4 seconds were returned to the clock. Once UNC successfully defended a half-court heave from Duke, fans once again ran out onto the court. Meanwhile, in downtown Chapel Hill, fans rushed the intersection of Franklin Street and Columbia Street to continue the tradition for when Carolina beats Duke.
Plenty of sports media personalities and college basketball analysts chimed in to share their takeaways from the rivalry matchup and give credit to UNC’s playmaking toward the end of the game.
Several former UNC men’s basketball players were in attendance for Saturday’s game, including Theo Pinson, Justin Jackson, Antawn Jamison and more. Some of those — and many others — celebrated on social media along with Tar Heel fans.
Check out other highlights from the Carolina campus community, UNC fans and local figures posting about the Tar Heels’ win.
#GDTBATH
— MayorMark (@mayormark.bsky.social) 2026-02-08T02:05:13.343Z
I love freakin Theo Pinson.Look on the right side of this pic😂😂😂😂
— NBABeau (@nbabeau.bsky.social) 2026-02-08T03:03:15.284Z
UNC (19-4, 7-3 in ACC) will return to action on Tuesday, as the Tar Heels travel to face Miami.
Featured photo by Todd Melet/Chapel Hill Media Group.
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
‹
Art's Angle: Extended FamilyMichael Malone admitted he is an “outsider” hired to lead the UNC men’s basketball program. But there are some old-school ties to the program.
Holding Court: Five Things To Know About Carolina's Coaching ChangeDavid Glenn shares five critical things to know about the end to Hubert Davis’ head coaching tenure at UNC and the search for his successor.
Social Media Reacts to UNC Men's Basketball's Season-Ending Collapse to VCUFollowing UNC men's basketball's loss, many media members and Tar Heel fans took to social media to react to Carolina's collapse.
UNC Basketball in the AP Poll: Women Up to No. 15, Men Down to No. 19Both the UNC men’s and women’s basketball teams made moves in the most recent AP Polls, which were released Monday. The women’s team moved up one spot to No. 15, while the men’s team slipped two spots to No. 19. On the men’s side, the Tar Heels dropped after splitting their final two games of […]
UNC Basketball in the AP Poll: Men Up to No. 17, Women Up to No. 16The UNC men’s and women’s basketball teams both rose in the latest editions of the AP Poll, which were released Monday. The men’s team rose one spot to No. 17, while the women’s team rose five spots to No. 16. The No. 17 Tar Heel men won a pair of home games last week, defeating […]
UNC Basketball in the AP Poll: Men Drop to No. 18, Women Rise to No. 21The UNC men’s basketball team dropped two spots to No. 18 in the latest AP Poll, while the women’s team rose one spot to No. 21. Both polls were released Monday. The men’s team split its pair of games during the past week. The Tar Heels lost badly at NC State Tuesday night in Raleigh, […]
UNC Basketball in the AP Poll: Men's and Women's Teams Both Drop in Latest RankingsThe UNC men’s and women’s basketball teams each dropped spots in the latest AP Poll Monday after both suffered losses during the week. The men dropped five spots from No. 11 to No. 16, while the women dropped one spot from No. 21 to No. 22. The men’s team’s previous ranking of No. 11 had […]
UNC Basketball in the AP Poll: Men Rise to No. 11, Women Rise to No. 21After the UNC men’s and women’s basketball teams each picked up big wins last week, both squads have risen in the latest edition of the AP Poll. The men’s team rose three spots to No. 11, while the women’s team rose four spots to No. 21. For the men, No. 11 is the team’s highest […]
Art’s Angle: GenerationalSaturday's win by UNC over Duke created a generational moment at a time when the Carolina program and coach needed a win over its archrival.
Social Media Erupts Following UNC's Buzzer Beater to Beat Duke, Court StormingNo. 14 UNC earned the 71-68 win over Duke off a buzzer-beating three-pointer, sending the Dean Smith Center and social media into a frenzy.
›
