What should have been remembered as one of the season’s most electric chapters in the Duke–North Carolina rivalry instead ended in fear, frustration, and serious safety concerns.
Duke head coach Jon Scheyer did not mince words after No. 14 North Carolina shocked No. 4 Duke 71–68 Saturday night at the Dean Smith Center, calling the aftermath of the game a “scary ending” that overshadowed an incredible comeback by the Tar Heels.
The Blue Devils appeared firmly in control at halftime, carrying a commanding 41–29 lead into the locker room. Duke’s offense was flowing, their defense was dictating pace, and the rivalry crowd seemed stunned into relative quiet. But everything flipped in the second half.
North Carolina stormed back with relentless energy, outscoring Duke 42–27 after the break. With 2:51 remaining, the Tar Heels still trailed 68–62, but what followed was a breathtaking 9–0 run that flipped the game—and the arena—on its head.
Senior guard Seth Trimble delivered the dagger, drilling a corner three-pointer with just 0.4 seconds left on the clock. The shot initially appeared to beat the buzzer, and fans poured onto the court in instant celebration. Chaos erupted as bodies flooded the floor, security scrambled, and Duke players were left trapped in the middle of the mayhem.
For Scheyer, the moment went far beyond basketball.
“For me, it’s hard to talk about the game when I was most concerned for the safety of our players after the game,” Scheyer said. “I don’t want to make it about that, because Carolina played a great game to win. That’s a heartbreaking loss for our team.”
Scheyer revealed disturbing details from the aftermath, painting a picture of disorder and danger.
“You know, I got staff members that got punched in the face,” he said. “My family had people pushing them away, trying not to get trampled. That’s not what this game is about. You give them all the credit in the world. It’s not about the game, but obviously, that was a scary ending that this rivalry is not about.”
The situation became even more complicated when officials reviewed Trimble’s shot and confirmed that 0.4 seconds still remained. Fans were forced off the court so the game could officially conclude. Once the final horn sounded, the crowd rushed the floor again—while Duke was still attempting to exit.
It marked the second time in just three seasons that a court-storming incident caused issues involving Duke. Memories immediately resurfaced of February 2024, when Blue Devils forward Kyle Filipowski was injured after being struck by a fan during a court storm at Wake Forest.
Despite the recurring incidents, Scheyer was careful not to call for an outright ban on court-storming.
“I’m all for court storming, trust me,” he said. “They won. They should celebrate. If they want to celebrate, court storm. But just let us get our guys off safely. That’s it. That’s where I’m at with that.”
Scheyer emphasized that the danger comes from forcing players and fans into close quarters during emotionally charged moments.
“We put our players in a position where they’re face-to-face with people who can do anything at any time,” he explained. “It just takes one reaction. Even today, I had to push people away to protect our players.”
North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham issued a public apology to Scheyer and the Duke program, acknowledging that injuries occurred during the chaos.
“When they rushed the court, a number of people got knocked over,” Cunningham said. “But then we had to clear the court again. So when we normally have something like just rushing the court and the game is over, we do have a line by the benches to get people off safely. Obviously, if somebody got injured, that’s just really, really disappointing.”
Cunningham pledged to review procedures and improve security measures moving forward.
On the court, the drama matched the disorder off it. Duke freshman Cameron Boozer delivered a dominant performance, leading all scorers with 24 points and 11 rebounds. His double-double showcased why he is already viewed as one of the most impactful young players in college basketball.
North Carolina countered with a balanced effort. Freshman Caleb Wilson poured in 23 points, while Trimble finished with 16 points, three steals, two rebounds, and a block—none bigger than his game-winning three.
Despite Boozer’s heroics, Duke was undone by inefficiency and mistakes. The Blue Devils shot just 45 percent from the field, committed eight costly turnovers, and were whistled for 15 fouls, allowing UNC to control momentum late.
The loss dropped Duke to 21–2 overall, handing them their first ACC loss of the season and snapping a long stretch of dominance in Chapel Hill. It also marked their first loss at the Dean Smith Center since February 3, 2024.
As Duke regroups ahead of a road matchup against Pittsburgh on Tuesday, the sting of the loss remains—but the concern lingers even more.
For Scheyer, the rivalry’s passion should never come at the cost of safety. And after a night that ended in fear rather than celebration, that message rang louder than the final buzzer.
