Duke vs. North Carolina: score: Live coverage, college basketball scores, updates, NCAA highlights

Duke is the team that entered Saturday’s rivalry showdown with North Carolina most in need of a win to bolster its NCAA Tournament resume. But the Tar Heels were the team that played with a palpable sense of urgency in the first half, as they opened up a 42-26 lead entering the break.

UNC used its size advantage to dominate inside early and then got some timely 3-pointers to keep the Blue Devils from narrowing the deficit amid a poor shooting start. In particular, Duke’s leading scorer Matthew Hurt struggled in the first half, going scoreless for nearly 19 minutes before getting a couple late buckets to keep Duke within shouting distance.

A win would complete a regular-season sweep for UNC, which won the first game 91-87 a month ago. It would also solidify the Tar Heels’ NCAA Tournament resume after they entered Saturday as a projected No. 11 seed, according to Jerry Palm. If Duke wants to salvage its chances for an at-large bid, it may need to stage a historic rally in the second half.