The Duke Blue Devils and North Carolina Tar Heels faced off in another thrilling chapter of college basketball’s most intense rivalry. With Duke looking to clinch the ACC regular-season title and complete a season sweep of UNC, all eyes were on this high-stakes matchup in Chapel Hill.
Would Duke’s Cooper Flagg shine once again, or would UNC’s RJ Davis lead the Tar Heels to redemption? Let’s break down the action in our Duke vs UNC Highlights recap.
Duke vs UNC Highlights: Blue Devils Take Control Late
The Duke Blue Devils delivered a dominant second-half performance to take down North Carolina with an 82-69 victory. After a back-and-forth battle in the first half, Duke found another gear after halftime, fueled by key performances from Kon Knueppel, Sion James, and Cooper Flagg.
Final Score & Key Stats – Duke 82, UNC 69
📊 Duke Stats:
- Field Goal %: 56.4% (31/55)
- 3-Point %: 47.4% (9/19)
- Rebounds: 39
- Assists: 14
- Turnovers: 14
📊 UNC Stats:
- Field Goal %: 39.1% (25/64)
- 3-Point %: 33.3% (9/27)
- Rebounds: 26
- Assists: 8
- Turnovers: 6
Top Performers from the Duke vs UNC Highlights
- Kon Knueppel: 17 points (7/10 FG, 3/6 3PT), 2 rebounds, 3 assists
- Sion James: 16 points (6/8 FG), 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals
- Tyrese Proctor: 16 points (6/10 FG, 2/4 3PT), 2 rebounds
- Cooper Flagg: 15 points (6/15 FG), 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 blocks
Duke vs UNC Highlights: Second-Half Surge Seals the Win
Cooper Flagg’s Dunk Puts an Exclamation Mark on the Win
With just over a minute remaining, Cooper Flagg put the finishing touch on Duke’s statement win. After driving past UNC’s Drake Powell, Flagg soared for a two-handed dunk, silencing the home crowd in Chapel Hill.
Kon Knueppel and Sion James Take Over Late
As the game reached its final five minutes, Knueppel and James helped Duke break away. Knueppel knocked down a catch-and-shoot three-pointer from the corner off a beautiful cross-court pass from Flagg, extending the lead to double digits.
James followed it up with a pair of transition layups, pushing Duke’s lead to 75-64 with under five minutes remaining. Their clutch plays turned a close game into a comfortable win for the Blue Devils.
Maliq Brown’s Surprise 3-Pointer Swings Momentum
Few expected Maliq Brown to make a huge impact from deep, but his third three-pointer of the season came at a perfect time. With eight minutes left, Brown found himself wide open beyond the arc and drained a clutch triple, giving Duke a seven-point cushion (68-61).
Duke’s 12-0 Run Stuns UNC in the Second Half
The game turned completely in Duke’s favor with 9:39 left when Caleb Foster and Maliq Brown fueled a 12-0 Blue Devils run.
- Foster drove into the lane for a tough layup, igniting Duke’s offense.
- Sion James found Brown for a breakaway dunk, forcing UNC to call a timeout.
By the time the run ended, Duke had erased a deficit and taken full control of the game.
Duke vs UNC Highlights: First Half Recap
Duke’s Early Dominance
The Blue Devils started strong, shooting 51.9% from the field in the first half while knocking down six three-pointers. Kon Knueppel, Sion James, and Tyrese Proctor led the way, each scoring 10 points before halftime.
UNC’s Late First-Half Push
The Tar Heels fought back behind RJ Davis, who exploded for 15 first-half points. UNC ended the half on a 14-2 run, cutting Duke’s lead to just one point (43-42) at halftime.
Key Takeaways from the Duke vs UNC Highlights
✅ Duke’s Second-Half Adjustments Were Key – The Blue Devils outscored UNC 39-27 after halftime, using better ball movement and tougher defense.
✅ Cooper Flagg’s Impact Beyond Scoring – Flagg’s six assists and four blocks proved his two-way dominance even when he wasn’t scoring at his usual clip.
✅ Kon Knueppel’s Breakout Performance – His team-high 17 points helped Duke stay in control during key moments.
✅ UNC’s Offense Struggled Late – After making their first five shots of the second half, the Tar Heels went cold, shooting just 35% in the final 15 minutes.
Duke vs UNC Highlights: What’s Next?
With the win, Duke locks up the ACC’s No. 1 seed heading into the conference tournament. Their dominant play in both matchups vs. UNC this season proves they’re a top contender for March Madness.
Meanwhile, the Tar Heels will need to regroup quickly as they aim for a strong postseason run despite the loss.
Final Thought: This game was another classic battle in the Duke vs UNC rivalry, but in the end, it was Jon Scheyer’s Blue Devils who left Chapel Hill victorious.
