Thu Mar 13 16:50:00 UTC 2025: ## Duke Edges Out North Carolina, Secures No. 1 ACC Seed
**CHAPEL HILL, N.C.** – Duke University’s men’s basketball team secured the No. 1 seed in the upcoming ACC tournament with an 82-69 victory over rival North Carolina on Saturday night. The win, however, wasn’t without its challenges.
The Blue Devils faced adversity early, with star freshman Cooper Flagg picking up three early fouls and spending nearly ten minutes on the bench in the first half. This allowed North Carolina to chip away at a 15-point Duke lead, reducing the deficit to just one point by halftime.
Despite Coach Jon Scheyer’s positive halftime message, the Tar Heels opened the second half strongly, taking a seven-point lead. However, Flagg’s return ignited a Duke comeback. Playing with three fouls, he dominated defensively, recording four blocks, and contributed 15 points, nine rebounds, and six assists, including a powerful dunk that energized the team and silenced the hostile crowd.
Scheyer praised Flagg’s performance, suggesting he deserves national player of the year consideration. “I don’t think we’ve seen that in college in a long time,” Scheyer stated. Significant contributions from Maliq Brown (two crucial three-pointers) and Caleb Foster also bolstered Duke’s comeback.
The victory solidified Duke’s regular-season ACC title and likely places them as the No. 1 team nationally heading into the tournament. Scheyer emphasized the team’s focus on the present, rather than rankings.
For North Carolina, the loss significantly hurts their NCAA tournament hopes, likely requiring multiple wins in the ACC tournament to secure a bid. Coach Hubert Davis expressed pride in his team’s effort and resilience, vowing to regroup for the upcoming tournament.
First Piper 