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CHAPEL HILL, NC – North Carolina concluded its regular season on Saturday night with a rare rivalry trio, sealing their invitation to the NCAA tournament with a thrilling 91-73 Senior Night victory while nearly canceling bookings from Duke in the playoffs in Indianapolis.
UNC’s 18-point margin of victory was its biggest against Duke since an 88-70 victory at Cameron Indoor Stadium on March 3, 2012.
The Tar Heels (16-9, 10-6 ACC) copied their offensive game plan of victory at Durham four weeks ago and added a defensive splash, scoring at will inside and outside all preventing the Blue Devils (11-11, 9-9 ACC) from establishing any kind of offensive pace at the other end. UNC built a 26-6 lead midway through the first half making 11 of their first 16 field goal attempts (3 of 4 3FG) and holding Duke to 3 of 14 shots and six turnovers.
UNC’s 42-26 halftime lead was their second biggest of the season and their biggest against Duke in nine years. The Blue Devils reduced their deficit to 44-31 with 18:27 to go before the margin swelled to 24 points with 10:07 to go.
The Tar Heels shot 55.4% while keeping the Blue Devils at 40.6%. UNC scored 16 points on 15 turnovers and Duke blocked with 23 points on 20 turnovers. The home team overtook their rivals, 38-31. UNC concluded their home selection with a 10-1 record, including a 7-0 mark in ACC play.
Low low waist advantage
Duke’s makeshift zone had been effective in recent weeks with the addition of 7-footer Mark Williams to the starting lineup. Tar Heel’s frontcourt, however, managed to dismantle Mike Krzyzewski’s defensive plan by scoring UNC’s first 11 points and 26 of his first 42 points.
Armando Bacot had his second good performance in a row, scoring 18 points on 6 out of 10 shots and recording six rebounds. Garrison Brooks added 14 points on 6 of 9 shots, setting a new career high with a pair of 3 points.
Bombs away
If only Tar Heels players could play against the Blue Devils more often. Four weeks after setting or equaling season highs in 3-point (10) and 3-point field goal percentage (66.7%) at Cameron Indoor Stadium, UNC was back on Saturday, knocking down 8 18 long range attempts.
Kerwin Walton scored 18 points on 6 of 9 shots, including 4 of 7 from deep. It’s a positive turn of events for the first-year goaltender, who had managed 5 of 24 to 3 points in his previous three games.
Caleb Love also scored 18 points on 6 of 12 shots (2 of 6 3FG).
Senior night tribute
UNC seniors Andrew Platek, KJ Smith and Walker Miller joined Brooks in being honored in a pre-game ceremony with their family members in the stands. Junior Redshirt Sterling Manley, who performed for the first time in two years, was also recognized as a member of that signing class of 2017.
While all four seniors are eligible for a super senior season following an NCAA eligibility exception due to COVID-19, Roy Williams told reporters on Friday that any conversation regarding an additional year would take place after the season.
Highlight reading
This thing @__garro ??
?? @espn – https://t.co/SoKalgIMMX #CarolinaFamily pic.twitter.com/yBJeYNjHfR
– Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) March 6, 2021
Rivalry sweep
The Tar Heels swept the regular season series with the Blue Devils for just the second time in 12 years.
following
UNC took sixth place in the ACC tournament and will start the postseason game Wednesday (9 p.m. / ACCN) at Greensboro Coliseum. The Tar Heels will play the winner of No.11 Notre Dame and No.14 Wake Forest.
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