NEW ORLEANS — Coach K’s final game was a loss.
The North Carolina Tar Heels handed the Duke Blue Devils, and their legendary and soon-to-be retired head coach, a 81-77 defeat inside the Ceasar’s Superdome Saturday night in the NCAA Final Four.
UNC will now advance to the NCAA Men’s Championship Game on Monday night, while Duke’s legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski’s career comes to an end.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
UNC got on the board first with a Leaky Black three-pointer but Duke answered with a pair of dunks by Mark Williams. Neither team would be able to pull away for the next five-plus minutes.
After R.J. Davis hit a three-pointer with a 14:01 left in the first half, the Tar Heels held a 11-6 lead over the Blue Devils. Duke got back the lead with a Theo John dunk and a Paolo Banchero three. The Blue Devils would lead by as many as six in the first half but was unable to pull away from the Tar Heels.
Duke did manage to grab a lead with four seconds before halftime as Jeremy Roach made a layup while being fould and then drained the ensuing free throw.
At the break, Duke led 37-34.
The Blue Devils quickly pushed their lead to seven points after dunks by Williams and Banchero. Tar Heels’ Caleb Love drained a three-pointer which sparked a 13-0 run.
Duke answered and the two teams would trade buckets and the lead for the next seven-plus minutes. With 10:50 left to play, the game was tied 55-55.
North Carolina then went on a 7-2 run and held a five-point lead with less than eight minutes to play. Duke then retook the lead as Banchero made a layup, Roach drained a pair of free throws, stole the ball from Love, and Trevor Keels made a layup.
The two rivals kept battling back and forth and with 3:32 left on the clock, the score was tied 67-67.
After Brady Manek made a free throw, UNC led 70-68 but Duke’s Keels hit a three-pointer. Manek answered with a three of his own but then Wendell Moore Jr. hit a three. With 1:18 left, the Blue Devils held a 74-73 lead.
After being fouled while driving to the basket, UNC’s Davis hit two free throws but Armando Bacot fouled Williams. The Duke star would miss both of his free throw attempts.
UNC’s Love quickly drained a three-pointer to give the Tar Heels a 78-74 lead. Duke answered with a quick Roach layup. Love was fouled but only made one of two free throws. The Tar Heels held a 79-76 lead.
Duke brought the ball down the court and Keels was fouled but he too only made one of two free throws. Love grabbed the defensive rebound, was fouled and made both free throws. Keels’ three-point attempt missed the mark and UNC moments later celebrated the win.
BIG NUMBER: 100
The national semifinal between the old rivals was the 100th, and final, one with Coach K as the man in charge of the Blue Devils.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: CALEB LOVE
The North Carolina guard led all scorers with 28 points as he shot 11-of-20 from the field. In addition, Love pulled down four rebounds.
UP NEXT: UNC (29-9) will now face Kansas in Monday night’s NCAA National Championship Game.