Everything was going pretty well for the University of North Carolina en route to their 71-68 over Duke in Chapel Hill, N.C. However, their celebrations were soon brought down by the ACC, owing to the chaos that ensued after their victory. According to Deadspin, the ACC fined UNC for $50,000 after the fans stormed the court in the wake of their win.
“The conference’s event security policy is designed to protect the safety and well-being of all student-athletes, coaches, officials and fans,” the ACC said. The fine is $50,000 for the first offence. Duke coach Jon Scheyer reveals that the members of his staff were punched by the fans who were all over the court. It was one of the two moments during which fans interrupted the game by storming the courts.
“For me, it’s hard for me to talk about the game when I was most concerned just for the safety of our players after the game. I don’t want to make it about that because Carolina, they played a great game to win, and that’s a heartbreaking loss for our team… My family pushing people away, trying to not get trampled. And that’s not what this game is about. You give them all the credit in the world. It’s not about the game, but obviously that was a scary ending, and this rivalry is not about that.”
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The Terrifying Incident Had A Rather Wholesome Conclusion
If you were wondering about how the fine is going to be used, then the league has already released its statement about the same. They have announced that ACC student-athletes will receive the fund as a scholarship for pursuing graduate education. North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham also apologized to Scheyer publicly while addressing the concern.
North Carolina was pretty much neck-and-neck with Duke as the game neared its end. However, it was Seth Trimble who hit a game-winning 3-pointer to bring UNC back in the game and defeat Duke with only 0.4 seconds left on the clock. The moment was quite special for Trimble, who said, “It’s special. I’m going to remember this for the rest of my life.”
The rivalry that Duke and North Carolina hold is a special one. Their latest match brought back many memories for the fans. It is the first time since 1996 that UNC won over Duke in the final 10 seconds since Dante Calabria’s tip-in. It is also the closest winning margin for the Tar Heels since their 2005 victory with 75-73.
Published: Feb 9, 2026 03:59 pm