Imagine trailing for an entire game, only to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat with a single, breathtaking shot. That’s exactly what happened when Seth Trimble’s last-second 3-pointer handed the North Carolina Tar Heels a thrilling 71-68 win over their arch-rivals, the Duke Blue Devils. But here’s where it gets controversial: Was this a stroke of genius or a stroke of luck? Let’s dive in.
Posted on February 8, 2026, at 12:36 AM and updated at 2:02 AM, this game will go down in history as one of the most dramatic matchups in the Duke-UNC rivalry. Written by Brian Murphy of WRAL News, the story unfolds in Chapel Hill, where Trimble’s heroics etched his name into Tar Heel lore. His corner 3-pointer with just 0.4 seconds left gave the 14th-ranked Tar Heels their first—and only—lead of the game at the Smith Center.
And this is the part most people miss: UNC’s comeback was nothing short of miraculous. After trailing by as many as 13 points in the first half and 11 in the second, the Tar Heels found themselves down 66-62 with 2:51 remaining. But they stormed back, scoring the final nine points on three clutch 3-pointers. Trimble’s 16 points included his lone long-range attempt of the game—the one that mattered most.
Freshman phenom Caleb Wilson led UNC with 23 points, while Duke’s Cameron Boozer, another freshman standout, topped the Blue Devils with 24 points. Boozer’s missed layup with 15 seconds left and the game tied at 68 will be a moment Duke fans replay in their minds. Meanwhile, UNC’s Henri Veesaar, who was silent in the first half, erupted for 13 second-half points, including the game-tying 3-pointer with 1:40 to go.
As fans stormed the court—only to be cleared for Duke’s final, futile play—the energy was electric. Both Wilson and Boozer are projected to be high picks in this year’s NBA Draft, adding another layer of intrigue to this rivalry. But here’s the question: Did Trimble’s shot define the game, or was it the culmination of UNC’s resilience and Duke’s late-game missteps? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this debate is far from over. © 2026 Capitol Broadcasting Company.
