Seth Trimble’s Buzzer-Beater Lifts UNC Over Duke in Instant Rivalry Classic
CHAPEL HILL - In a rivalry where legends are made and moments become memories, Seth Trimble just etched his name into Duke-UNC lore forever.
With the clock showing 0.4 seconds and the Tar Heels still searching for their first lead of the night, Trimble rose up from the corner and buried a cold-blooded three. That shot - his only attempt from beyond the arc all game - gave No. 14 North Carolina a stunning 71-68 win over Duke at the Smith Center, sending the home crowd into a frenzy and the student section pouring onto the court.
The Tar Heels trailed nearly wire to wire. Down by as many as 13 in the first half and still facing an 11-point deficit in the second, UNC looked out of sync for long stretches. But when it mattered most, they turned up the intensity and delivered a closing stretch that will be talked about in Chapel Hill for years.
With 2:51 left, Duke led 66-62. From that point on, UNC rattled off the final nine points of the game - all from deep.
It started with a clutch three from Henri Veesaar, who had been quiet in the first half but came alive after the break. Veesaar poured in 13 second-half points, including the game-tying triple with 1:40 remaining that set the stage for Trimble’s heroics.
Trimble finished with 16 points, but his final three were the ones that mattered most - a dagger that gave UNC its only lead of the night and effectively sealed the win.
Freshman Caleb Wilson was the steady hand throughout for the Tar Heels, leading the team with 23 points. His poise and shot-making helped keep UNC within striking distance while Duke controlled much of the tempo.
On the other side, Duke got a big-time performance from freshman Cameron Boozer, who dropped a game-high 24 points. Boozer had a chance to play hero himself, but missed a contested look at the rim with the score tied at 68 and just 15 seconds left on the clock. That miss opened the door for Trimble’s last-second magic.
After Trimble’s shot fell, the Smith Center erupted. Fans stormed the court in celebration, forcing officials to clear the floor before Duke could attempt a final desperation play - one that never resulted in a shot.
This one had all the elements of a classic: big runs, clutch shots, young stars stepping up, and a finish worthy of the rivalry’s storied history. For Trimble, it was the kind of moment every Tar Heel dreams of. For UNC, it was a statement win - not just over their biggest rival, but in the way they did it: resilient, relentless, and with ice in their veins when it counted most.