Men's basketball: North Carolina rallies to beat No. 5 Duke 74-66

The Associated Press

Published: February 20, 2014 10:33 pm
Day in the Top 25 • Tar Heels rally in second half to beat No. 5 Blue Devils.
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Chapel Hill, N.C. • Marcus Paige scored all 13 of his points in the second half, including two big baskets in the final 2½ minutes, to help North Carolina beat No. 5 Duke 74-66 on Thursday night for their eighth straight win.

Senior Leslie McDonald added a season-high 21 points for the Tar Heels (19-7, 9-4 Atlantic Coast Conference), who rallied from 11 down in the second half to snap a two-game home losing streak to the Blue Devils (21-6, 10-4).

It was by far North Carolina's most impressive win during the run that has helped the Tar Heels dig out from an 0-3 ACC start.

When it was over, UNC students and fans stormed to midcourt to celebrate a win that came eight days later than they had hoped due to a winter storm that forced the game's postponement last week.

The Tar Heels shot 47 percent and made their last 10 free throws in the final 6 minutes after a disastrous start at the line.

Jabari Parker and Quinn Cook both scored 17 points to lead Duke, which led 51-40 with about 15 minutes left before going ice cold from the field.

No. 13 Michigan St. 94, Purdue 79 • In West Lafayette, Ind., Gary Harris scored 25 points, Adreian Payne added 23 and Michigan State hit a school-record 17 3-pointers.

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