North Carolina Rallies to Beat No. 5 Duke 74-66

North Carolina head coach Roy Williams protests a call with an official during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against the Pittsburgh in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Feb. 15, 2014. North Carolina won 75-71.
(AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. Marcus Paige scored all 13 of his points in the second half, including two big baskets in the final 2 1/2 minutes, to help North Carolina beat No. 5 Duke 74-66 on Thursday night in the rivalry’s weather-delayed game. North Carolina played its best defense of the year and has continued to stick to it during their 8 game win streak. That and points in the paint. The usual Carolina strength. Attacking the basket.

The Tar Heels forced the 2nd best 3 point shooting team in college, a usual Duke strength aka Euro ball, to a 4-20 shooting night. Down the tail end of the game. Carolina was behind and tied it up with a few minutes remaining. Then Marcus Paige was the man of the hour and came through with a few huge buckets. 2 mid-range jumpers and a very savvy layup in between two contesting Duke defenders.

Senior Leslie McDonald added a season-high 21 points for the Tar Heels (19-7, 9-4 Atlantic Coast Conference), who rallied from 11 down in the second half to snap a two-game home losing streak to the Blue Devils (21-6, 10-4).

It was North Carolina’s eighth straight win and by far its most impressive during the run that has helped the Tar Heels dig out from an 0-3 ACC start.

When it was over, UNC students and fans stormed to midcourt to celebrate a win that was came eight days later than they had hoped due to a winter storm that forced the game’s postponement last week.

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