Duke Blue Devils Upset North Carolina in Thrilling ACC Basketball Showdown

In one of the most electrifying college basketball games of the season, Duke University's Blue Devils pulled off a stunning 78-75 upset victory over their arch-rivals North Carolina Tar Heels at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Tuesday night. The victory marked Duke's first win over the Tar Heels in their last five meetings and sent the Cameron Crazies into absolute pandemonium.\n\nFreshman guard Marcus Thompson was the star of the show, scoring a career-high 24 points including the game-winning three-pointer with 12.3 seconds remaining. The 6-foot-2 guard from Atlanta had struggled in recent games, shooting just 38% from the field in his previous three outings, but found his rhythm when it mattered most. Thompson hit 6-of-10 from three-point range and added 7 assists in what many are calling a breakout performance.\n\nNorth Carolina, led by senior forward James Mitchell's 22 points and 11 rebounds, appeared to be in control for much of the second half, holding an 8-point lead with under five minutes to play. However, Duke's full-court pressure defense forced three crucial turnovers in the final four minutes, allowing the Blue Devils to mount their comeback. Junior forward Tyler Washington contributed 18 points and 9 rebounds for Duke, while providing the defensive intensity that disrupted Carolina's offensive flow.\n\nThe victory has major implications for both teams' NCAA Tournament seeding prospects. Duke improves to 19-7 overall and 11-4 in ACC play, likely cementing their position as a No. 4 seed in March Madness. Meanwhile, North Carolina drops to 17-9 and 9-6 in conference play, potentially sliding to the bubble conversation despite their strong early-season play.\n\nDuke head coach Mike Krzyzewski Jr., son of the legendary Coach K, praised his team's resilience after the game. 'This group has shown tremendous growth over the past month,' he said. 'Marcus has been working extra hours in the gym, and tonight showed what happens when preparation meets opportunity. This is the kind of win that can propel a team deep into March.'\n\nThe victory also extends Duke's home winning streak to 14 games and maintains their perfect 13-0 record at Cameron Indoor Stadium this season. With just four regular season games remaining, Duke now controls their own destiny for a top-three finish in the ACC standings and a potential double-bye in the conference tournament.