Last second win, home invasion, controversy… North Carolina – Duke in their excess
In what will go down as one of the most intense and controversial episodes of the rivalry between Duke etc North CarolinaCaleb Wilson’s Tar Heels (23 points) knocked off their longtime foes on Saturday night in Chapel Hill thanks to Seth Trimble’s (16 points) killer 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds left (71-68). The “game winner” that sparked not one, but two pitch invasions, in an atmosphere that quickly spiraled out of control.
Ranked 14th nationally, the Tar Heels had never led a full game before this last shot! With Cameron Boozer’s 24 points, Duke seemed to be in control of the game and still led by several possessions in the second half. But North Carolina gradually clawed its way back, before turning it all around with one last perfectly executed drive.
After a key defensive rebound, Hubert Davis took a timeout with 11 seconds left to draw a layup for Derek Dixon, who was tasked with attacking the rim. With Duke’s defense closing in, Dixon found Trimble, alone in the corner, facing the North Carolina bench. The shot went in, the net shook and the Smith Center exploded.
The fans then stormed the field, convinced that the match was over. Problem: After reviewing the video, the referees determined there was 0.4 seconds left on the clock. So the game was not over.
Invasion of the earth… so a second
The officials then called for the court to be cleared to allow Duke to play one final possession. A rare and confusing scene, punctuated by repeated announcements on the microphone: “The game is not over.” With the field cleared, Duke tried one last desperate move…to no avail. The final buzzer then officially sounded, sparking a second pitch invasion, even more massive than the first.
But this time, the celebration gave way to concern, as the Duke coach condemned the serious incidents. Jon Scheier explained in a press conference that his main concern was not the loss, as cruel as it was, but the safety of his players and those around him in the chaos that followed the buzzer.
“Members of my staff were hit in the face. My family had to push people away to avoid being trampled. That’s not what this match is about.”
Apology of North Carolina
In the face of the controversy, UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham issued a public apology to Scheier, confirming that someone was injured, without specifying the nature of the injury. “When the country was invaded, a few people fell. Then we had to evacuate again. Obviously, if there were any injuries, that’s extremely disappointing.”
The university said it will review the videos to determine exactly what happened.
On a sporting level, Trimble’s shot immediately entered the legend of the rivalry between the two universities. This is the first time since 1996 that North Carolina has beaten Duke with a field goal in the final ten seconds of regulation. For Trimble, a player often limited to a defensive role and long hampered by injuries, the moment is historic. “It’s special. I’ll remember it for the rest of my life,” he confided.
2026-02-08 10:32:00
