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UNC Topples Duke at Home with Last-Second Shot
No. 14 North Carolina defeats No. 4 Duke 71-68 in a thrilling finish.
Feb. 9, 2026 at 7:23pm
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In a classic UNC-Duke matchup, the No. 14 North Carolina Tar Heels defeated the No. 4 Duke Blue Devils 71-68 on a last-second three-pointer by senior Seth Trimble. The Tar Heels overcame a double-digit deficit several times in the game to pull off the upset victory at home.
Why it matters
This win is a significant boost for the Tar Heels, who had dropped back-to-back games against Stanford and California, raising questions about the team's ceiling. Defeating their rival Duke, especially in dramatic fashion, gives North Carolina much-needed momentum heading into the final stretch of ACC play.
The details
Seth Trimble hit the game-winning three-pointer with 0.4 seconds left to lift North Carolina over Duke. Trimble finished with 16 points, 3 steals, and shot 5-of-7 from the field. Caleb Wilson led the Tar Heels with 23 points on 67% shooting, while Duke was paced by Cameron Boozer's 24 points and 11 rebounds. North Carolina was outrebounded by 12 and took seven fewer shots than Duke, but was able to pull out the victory in the end.
- The game was played on Saturday, February 10, 2026.
- Trimble hit the game-winning shot with 0.4 seconds left on the clock.
The players
Seth Trimble
A senior guard for the North Carolina Tar Heels who hit the game-winning shot to defeat Duke.
Caleb Wilson
The leading scorer for North Carolina, finishing the game with 23 points.
Cameron Boozer
A prospective top-3 NBA draft pick and the son of Duke legend Carlos Boozer, who led the Blue Devils with 24 points and 11 rebounds.
Henri Vessar
The Duke center who stepped up in the second half, finishing with 13 points and 11 rebounds, including a key three-pointer that tied the game late.
Hubert Davis
The head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels, who needed this big win over Duke to quiet questions about his coaching ability.
What they’re saying
“It's crazy. It's crazy. You dream stuff like this as a kid. You dream of stuff like this even as a grown man before you go to sleep, then, man, I never would have thought that would have been me.”
— Seth Trimble
“Oh, it's everything. It's everything. I mean, you don't get that in the SEC unless it's Auburn and Alabama, and that's...you just don't get this. It's something special. And once you get here, you get glued into it.”
— Seth Trimble
What’s next
The Tar Heels will look to build on this momentum as they continue ACC play, while Duke will try to bounce back from its second loss of the season.
The takeaway
This thrilling victory over their rival Duke showcases the heart and resilience of the North Carolina Tar Heels, who refused to be deterred by a double-digit deficit and found a way to win on a last-second shot. The win provides a much-needed boost for the Tar Heels and their head coach Hubert Davis as they aim to make a strong push in the final stretch of the season.
