The trilogy of the 2024-25 North Carolina-Duke basketball series was the best of the bunch. Even without Cooper Flagg and Maliq Brown, the Blue Devils dominated the early going against their Tobacco Road rivals, jumping out to a 24-point lead.
North Carolina, fighting for its NCAA Tournament life, wasn’t about to go down without a fight. The Tar Heels scrapped and clawed back in the second half, eventually cutting the lead to just one on a pair of Seth Trimble free throws. After Tyrese Proctor missed the front end of a one-and-one, UNC had a chance to take down its arch rival for the first time this season.
With less than five seconds to go, North Carolina big man Ven-Allen Lubin was fouled. After missing the first free throw, Lubin drained the second to tie the game, but Jae’Lyn Withers was called for a lane violation that wiped out the make.
NO WAY
UNC was called for a free throw violation on the game-tying free throw…
Duke went on to win the game 74-71
Thoughts on the call?
pic.twitter.com/IcEmPl90hr
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) March 15, 2025
Duke made a pair of free throws, and Lubin’s desperation 3-pointer to tie it missed and the Blue Devils completed the sweep of Hubert Davis and company.
Now, North Carolina has a long wait until Selection Sunday as it awaits its NCAA Tournament fate.
This story will be updated.
The post Duke basketball fends off North Carolina comeback after controversial lane violation appeared first on ClutchPoints.
