UNC men's basketball sees double-digit lead evaporate in ACC semifinal loss to Duke

The North Carolina men's basketball team fell to Duke, 93-83, in the ACC Tournament semifinals in Brooklyn on Saturday night. 

What happened?

For the second game in a row, the Tar Heels (27-7, 14-4 ACC) got an early lift from one of their frontcourt players, as senior forward Kennedy Meeks scored 10 of UNC's first 12 points. 

Meeks' play gave North Carolina the lead, which it wouldn't relinquish for the remainder of the half. The Tar Heels were able to weather an 18-point first half from Jayson Tatum and four Grayson Allen threes to head into the break leading the Blue Devils (26-8, 11-7 ACC), 49-42. 

UNC was able to maintain a lead thanks to the play of Theo Pinson and Isaiah Hicks in the latter 10 minutes of the first period. Pinson was all over the place, hauling in long rebounds and dishing out six assists, while Hicks kept rolling from the day before with an 11-point half. 

UNC came out of the locker room as hot as it entered, as the Tar Heels quickly stretched the lead out to 10 points. Duke responded with a mini run of its own, but the North Carolina lead hovered around eight or 10 points for the first 10 minutes of the second half. 

Joel Berry picked up his fourth foul of the game with over 15 minutes left, but it didn't throw the Tar Heels out of rhythm. At least, not initially. 

UNC took a 13-point lead with 13:53 to go in the game, but from there the Blue Devils went on a 20-4 run to take a 68-65 lead with 7:52 remaining. Duke eventually stretched the lead to seven points with less than five minutes remaining, putting all the pressure on North Carolina to make the comeback.

The Tar Heels cut the lead to five after a Pinson dunk, but couldn't get any closer.

Who stood out?

Meeks struggled in North Carolina's first two matchups with Duke this season, totaling just 17 combined points over the course of both games. 

The senior was able to hit that mark 19 seconds into the second half. Meeks finished the game with 19 points and 12 rebounds, but he didn't score in the game's final 13 minutes.

When was it decided?

Berry's relegation to the bench after his fourth foul turned the tide of the game completely. North Carolina, which once found itself with a 13-point lead, suddenly trailed by seven with less than five minutes to go. The Blue Devil supporters in attendance got into it, and the Tar Heels couldn't get back into it.

Why does it matter?

The Tar Heels had a shot to possibly lock up a No. 1 seed with a win over the Blue Devils, but a loss almost assures they'll fall to the two line.

Where do they play next?

The Tar Heels will have to wait until Selection Sunday to see when and where they will play the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament.

@jbo_vernon

sports@dailytarheel.com