Duke Basketball Slaps Floor in Revenge Win Over Tar Heels

Blue Devils never trail after early lead change, pull away in second half

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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The top-ranked Duke Blue Devils basketball team defeated the No. 17 North Carolina Tar Heels 76-61 in a rivalry matchup at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Duke led for the entire second half after a close first half, with freshman forward Cameron Boozer leading the way with 26 points and 14 rebounds. The Blue Devils employed an energetic "floor-slapping" defensive tactic in the second half to pull away.

Why it matters

The win gives Duke the season sweep over their bitter rivals North Carolina, exacting revenge after losing to the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill a month ago. It also clinches the outright ACC regular season championship for Duke, their second in a row, as they head into the conference tournament.

The details

Duke jumped out to an early lead but North Carolina tied it at 6-6 early on. From there, the Blue Devils never trailed, leading 39-34 at halftime. In the second half, UNC briefly cut the deficit to one, but Duke responded with a 12-0 run sparked by 3-pointers from Cameron Boozer and Isaiah Evans. Freshman forward Dame Sarr then energized the crowd with a floor-slapping defensive play that led to a 3-pointer and a dunk, putting Duke up 58-44 and forcing a North Carolina timeout.

  • The game was played on Saturday, March 8, 2026.
  • Duke suffered a 71-68 loss to North Carolina exactly one month prior, on February 8, 2026.

The players

Cameron Boozer

A freshman power forward for Duke who led the team with 26 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 assists.

Maliq Brown

A senior forward for Duke who scored 15 points, grabbed 9 rebounds, and had 5 steals.

Isaiah Evans

A sophomore guard for Duke who scored 11 points, including 3 3-pointers.

Dame Sarr

A freshman forward for Duke who provided an energizing defensive play with a floor-slap that led to a 3-pointer and dunk, helping Duke pull away.

Hubert Davis

The head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels.

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What’s next

Duke will gear up for the ACC Tournament, beginning with a quarterfinal bout in Charlotte's Spectrum Center at 7 p.m. ET Thursday (ESPN).

The takeaway

This victory over their bitter rivals North Carolina gives Duke the season sweep and clinches their second straight ACC regular season championship. The Blue Devils' energetic play, led by standout performances from freshmen Cameron Boozer and Dame Sarr, shows they are peaking at the right time heading into postseason play.