CHAPEL HILL—The Blue Devils used a barrage of 3-pointers to beat North Carolina 86-78 a month ago, but it may take even more offense than that to win another shootout this time around.
No. 17 Duke trails No. 5 North Carolina 48-46 after a half of play at the Dean E. Smith Center, led by 13 points from Luke Kennard and 10 points for Grayson Allen. The Blue Devils are also staying competitive on the boards for the second straight time against the top rebounding team in the nation, but there haven't been many missed shots available to rebound on either end.
Both teams are shooting better than 50 percent from the field so far, running up and down the floor in a fast-paced half that featured 18 lead changes. Point guard Joel Berry II has knocked down 5-of-5 3-pointers and scored 19 points to lead the Tar Heels.
Jefferson scored six of Duke's first eight points to put the Blue Devils in front in the early going, but North Carolina's offense soon found its footing with Berry and Isaiah Hicks leading the charge.
Hicks—who sat out the game in Durham due to a hamstring strain—has exploited a mismatch with Jayson Tatum guarding him to the tune of 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting, leaving Duke searching for answers in the post. Freshman big man Harry Giles played 10 minutes off the bench but still has not scored, though he does have three rebounds.
Duke went on an 11-4 run capped by a four-point play from Allen that also drew the second foul on Tar Heel star Justin Jackson to go in front 40-34 with 4:58 to play—the biggest margin of the half for either side. But North Carolina got right back in the game with two free throws from Jackson—who Tar Heel head coach Roy Williams elected to keep in the game—and a triple from Berry.
Allen was then whistled for a technical foul for an elbow to Brandon Robinson's face as he got fouled to get the home crowd riled up, and North Carolina took the lead on their next possession on a driving layup by Robinson.
Berry's fifth triple of the half put the Tar Heels in front for good for the final two minutes.
Here are some observations from the first half:
- Allen came off the bench to score 10 points thanks to seven free throws as he continues to deal with a left-ankle injury, and he also made an impressive hustle play when he dove to the floor for a steal and passed it up to Tatum for a breakaway dunk.
- Freshman Frank Jackson was effective as a starter in Allen's place for the second straight game, finishing the half with eight points and five rebounds. He did, however, lose track of Berry beyond the arc a few times.
- Kennard took the reins from Jefferson for the Blue Devil offense midway through the half, banking in a deep two-pointer and a triple on back-to-back possessions to cut into a five-point lead.
- Duke is dealing with some foul trouble, with both of its captains—Matt Jones and Amile Jefferson—picking up two fouls already. Tatum and Allen also have two apiece.
- The Blue Devils have been very effective attacking the rim and knocking down free throws, shooting 16-of-17 from the line.
- Williams started his seniors, including the walk-ons, as is tradition on Senior Night in Chapel Hill. But he did not let Kanler Coker and Stilman White enjoy too much time on the floor—they went to the bench 1:22 into the game after three empty possessions.
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