who won between duke and carolina

North Carolina edged out Duke in a thrilling rivalry matchup. The most recent game, played on February 7, 2026, at the Smith Center in Chapel Hill, saw No. 14 North Carolina defeat No. 4 Duke 71-68.

Game-Clinching Moment

Seth Trimble sealed the Tar Heels' victory with a dramatic 24-foot three- pointer from the corner as 0.4 seconds remained on the clock, assisted by Derek Dixon. This shot gave UNC its first lead after trailing by as many as 13 points in the first half and 11 in the second. It evoked memories of past buzzer-beaters, like Luke Maye's iconic 2017 NCAA Tournament shot against Kentucky.

Key Stats and Halves Breakdown

North Carolina mounted a stunning second-half comeback, shooting 60.7% from the field while limiting Duke to 37.5%. The Tar Heels outscored the Blue Devils 42-27 after halftime, including a pivotal 9-0 run in the final 2:25.

Team| 1st Half| 2nd Half| Final| Record After Game
---|---|---|---|---
North Carolina| 29| 42| 71| 19-4, 7-3 ACC 5
Duke| 41| 27| 68| 21-2, 10-1 ACC 5

Henri Veesaar led UNC's second-half surge with 13 points, all after halftime, including a three-pointer that tied the game at 68-68 with 1:40 left.

Rivalry Context

This Duke-North Carolina clash is one of college basketball's fiercest rivalries, with UNC snapping Duke's recent dominance—Duke had won prior matchups like 87-70 in February 2025. Fans on forums buzzed about the comeback, calling it a "come-from-behind classic" amid the Tobacco Road tension.

"Trimble's three from the corner gave the Tar Heels their only lead of the day."

TL;DR: North Carolina won 71-68 on Feb 7, 2026, thanks to Seth Trimble's game-winning three at the buzzer.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.