The Duke Blue Devils mens basketball are the number 1 ranked team in the country and they pulled off a big ranked rivalry game late in the second half. They beat the Carolina Tar Heels 76-61 in one of the best on going college rivalry’s games. Duke closed out the regular season in front of its home fans with a dominating second-half run led by freshman star Cameron Boozer.

This was a big win for Duke as this is wrapping up there post season and this is adding momentum heading into postseason play. The game also served as a reminder of the intensity of the Tobacco Road rivalry, which is regarded as one of the most intense games in college athletics.

This game started off with both teams trading baskets early, as North Carolina was keeping a steady pace with Dukes high scaled offense. Carolina was staying very competitive through much of the first half. But Dukes great rebounding and the pressure they were applying on defense helped them lead at halftime 39-34.

A big important factor before this game was that Chapel Hill was missing a big piece of their team. Caleb Wilson a freshman for the Tar hills has made a very big impact. With his rebounding and defensive presence, Wilson, who has been a key player for the Tar Heels this season, usually brings energy to both sides of the court. North Carolina found it difficult to match Duke’s strength in the paint and sustain steady momentum during key moments of the game without him in the rotation. He Is out the rest of the season due to a broken right thumb during practice drills.

Once the second half started North Carolina cut the lead down to even just a few points. Trying to shift the momentum in the game. However Duke responded loudly with a key scoring surge as they went on a 20-2 midway through the half. This was fueled by great defense and them creating good opportunities to score.

Cameron Boozer was leading the way for Duke as he finished with 26 points, 15 rebounds, and five assist making it one of the best rivalry performances this season. His ability to manage the paint on both ends of the court was crucial to the Blue Devils’ success.

North Carolina fought throughout the game and fought till the very end, despite the defeat. This rivalry matchup was made even more exciting by the Tar Heels’ amazing last-second three-pointer victory against Duke earlier in the season.

After the game Boozer reflected on the team and Boozer considered the team’s effort and intensity in the rivalry game after the game. As he said “This is one of the biggest games you play all year,” Boozer said after the win. “Everyone knows what Duke and Carolina means, and we wanted to come out and play our best basketball tonight.” As another chapter of the Duke and North Carolina rivalry concluded, the matchup once again delivered the drama, intensity, and high-level competition that has defined the series of the games over the years.