By ESPN | Created at 2025-03-09 02:50:48 | Updated at 2025-03-09 15:19:51
13 hours ago
ESPN News Services
Mar 8, 2025, 09:15 PM ET
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Freshman Kon Knueppel scored 17 points to help No. 2 Duke beat rival North Carolina 82-69 on Saturday night and clinch the outright Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season title.
Cooper Flagg added 15 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists despite first-half foul trouble for the Blue Devils (28-3, 19-1).
Duke blew a 15-point first-half lead and trailed by seven midway after the break, but responded with 12 consecutive points to turn the game and silence a roaring crowd.
The Blue Devils are in position to rise to No. 1 in Monday's AP Top 25 poll with top-ranked Auburn losing its past two games. With the win, Duke completed the first 19-1 regular-season slate since the ACC moved to 20 games in 2019-20.
Fifth-year senior RJ Davis scored 20 points in his final home game for Tar Heels (20-12), who were blown out in the first meeting this season but responded with far more resilience before Duke asserted control to stretch the lead in the final seven minutes.
The ACC Tournament starts Tuesday in Charlotte, North Carolina. Duke opens play as the 1-seed in Thursday's quarterfinals. UNC is the 5-seed and will play in Wednesday's second round.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
