Duke Knocks Off North Carolina In The Semifinals Of The Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament, Advances To The Championship Game
After being swept by North Carolina during the regular season Duke avenged those losses at the Spectrum Center that is the home of the Charlotte Hornets of the NBA in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament and advanced to the championship game.
Zion Williamson made the difference for fifth-ranked Duke in its third matchup with rival North Carolina. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211795754
Williamson tipped in his own miss to put the Blue Devils ahead for good, and Duke survived a final-play shot to beat the third-ranked Tar Heels 74-73 on Friday night' in the Atlantic Coast Conference semifinals.”according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211795754
The 6-foot-7, 285-pound freshman -- who barely played in one regular-season loss to UNC and not at all in the second -- finished with 31 points and 11 rebounds for the Blue Devils (28-5). “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211795754
"He put on his Superman jersey," UNC coach Roy Williams said. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211795754
That last tip-in helped Duke survive a classic that went down to the final play. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211795754
After freshman RJ Barrett missed two free throws with 12.4 seconds left, UNC pushed downcourt for a final possession. Coby White launched a contested long jumper against Tre Jones, but the ball bounced out as Nassir Little crashed the glass for a tip attempt as the horn sounded. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211795754
That sent Duke's bench into celebration and leaving a disappointed White crouching at midcourt in an arena filled with a buzzing instate crowd. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211795754
Cameron Johnson had 23 points for the Tar Heels (27-6), but he also missed a stepback 3-pointer for the lead that set up Barrett's missed free throws. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211795754
North Carolina led by 13 in the first half and 71-67 with less than three minutes left but couldn't hold on. The Tar Heels also went ahead 73-72 on Little's dunk with 48 seconds left, only to see Williamson respond by tipping in his own miss in the paint to go back in front. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211795754
The Tar Heels shot just 40 percent, including 4 of 27 from 3-point range, against Duke's aggressive defense that played tough after UNC landed an early flurry for the lead. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211795754
Barrett finished with 15 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in a matchup of two heavyweights contending for top seeds in the NCAA Tournament. They both looked the part, too -- down to Duke's final punch that finally secured a ticket to the tournament final. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211795754
"I mean it was tough watching the first two (Duke-UNC) games, wishing I could go to war with them," said Williamson, who was hurt in the opening minute of the first meeting Feb. 20. "The rivalry lived up to what it was expected to be." “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211795754
Duke will now play for an Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament title when they take on Florida State on Saturday who advanced with a win over the top seed in the tournament in Virginia.