Sun Mar 23 21:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Duke Dominates UNC, Sweeping Season Series in ACC Tournament Semifinals
**DURHAM, NC** – Duke University’s men’s basketball team secured a hard-fought 74-71 victory over the North Carolina Tar Heels in the ACC Tournament semifinals Friday night, completing a season sweep of their arch-rival for the first time since 2002. Despite missing key players Cooper Flagg (ankle) and Maliq Brown (shoulder), the top-seeded Blue Devils (30-3) held a commanding 45-24 lead at halftime. North Carolina mounted a late comeback, but a crucial missed free throw sealed their fate. The win marks a significant triumph for Duke, defying pre-game predictions from UNC guard RJ Davis.
Freshman Patrick Ngongba II led the Blue Devils with a career-high 12 points, while the team celebrated their victory with lighthearted locker room banter highlighting their dominance.
Duke will now face the No. 2 seed Louisville Cardinals (28-6) in the ACC Tournament championship game on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. The two teams met once during the regular season, with Duke winning a comeback game on the road.
First Piper 