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Duke Tops North Carolina; Wilson Out For Season

PUBLISHED Mar 7, 2026, 5:52 PM ET

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DURHAM, N.C. — Duke defeated No. 17 North Carolina 76-61 on Saturday in the regular-season finale at Cameron Indoor Stadium, capitalizing on a 20-2 second-half run and 24 points off turnovers. Cameron Boozer led Duke with 26 points and 15 rebounds in what likely was his final home game. North Carolina played without Caleb Wilson after he suffered a broken right thumb in practice and will miss the remainder of the season; he led UNC with 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. Duke finished 29-2 (17-1 ACC); UNC finished 22-9 (12-6). Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

By Sarah Whitman | JQJO News

Timeline of Events

Feb 7 — North Carolina upset Duke 71-68 at the Smith Center in the first matchup.
Feb 10 — Caleb Wilson fractured his left hand during the Miami game and missed time.
Early March (Thursday before Mar 7) — Wilson suffered a broken right thumb in practice and underwent surgery.
Mar 7 — Duke defeated North Carolina 76-61 at Cameron Indoor Stadium, led by Cameron Boozer.
Postgame — Coaches addressed Wilson’s season-ending injury and both teams shifted focus to the ACC Tournament.

News Intelligence

This game's result impacts the ACC Tournament seeding. With Duke's win and UNC's loss, the teams' standings shift. If you're a fan, it's time to recheck your bracket predictions. And remember, Caleb Wilson's injury could affect UNC's performance moving forward.

Media Bias

Articles Published:: 7
Right Leaning:: 0
Left Leaning:: 0
Neutral:: 7

Who Benefited

Duke University’s basketball program benefited immediately from the victory, improving its regular-season record, enhancing tournament seeding prospects, and showcasing Cameron Boozer’s performance to NBA scouts.

Who Impacted

North Carolina and Caleb Wilson suffered notable setbacks: the Tar Heels lost a leading scorer for the postseason, and Wilson’s season ended with a broken right thumb, weakening UNC’s rotation and postseason outlook.

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