DEJA VU: On anniversary of Austin Rivers, Duke beats UNC at buzzer

On the eight-year anniversary of the Austin Rivers buzzer-beater, Wendell Moore put the Duke basketball team over North Carolina at the buzzer in overtime.

I have no idea what just happened, absolutely no idea, so please forgive me if I leave something out, but I’m going to try my best.

You know what they say: Duke and North Carolina, it ALWAYS delivers.

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The Blue Devils were dead in the water and I mean DEAD in the water.

Duke was down by 12, on the road, and Vernon Carey had just fouled out after going scoreless in the second half after his 18-point first half.

North Carolina led by as many as 13 points in the game and its lead was four with approximately 40 seconds left in the game.

The Heels led by three with six seconds remaining as Tre Jones absolutely took over.

He got Duke to within two with one free throw remaining and rifled it off the front of the iron as the ball bounced back to the right wing. Jones tracked it down and drilled a free throw line mid-range jumper to tie the game at 84 as the buzzer sounded and forced overtime.

Jones continued his hot-streak as he scored 15 straight points for Duke that started in the second half and carried over into overtime.

The Blue Devils led by as many as five in overtime, but North Carolina would respond with an 11-1 run to take a 96-91 lead with 21 seconds to go and would never get the ball back.

It was Jones who made a layup within five seconds to make it a one-possession game once again, but the sophomore was unable to convert his free throw, however the rebound went out of bounds off Carolina.

After an official timeout, Jones found Wendell Moore cutting to the basket who made it a one-point game.

Mike Krzyzewski called his final timeout of overtime and after the Duke defense stood tall to deny Carolina of inbounding the ball, Roy Williams had to take his final timeout.

On the ensuing possession, Wendell Moore was able to force a turnover on the inbound pass, which many people think was a foul on the Blue Devils.

Nonetheless, it was Duke ball after an official review and Jones inbounded to Moore who gave the ball right back to his point guard.

Jones drove into the paint and got fouled, heading to the line for two free throws.

Tre Jones made the first to tie the game but missed the second with under seven seconds to go.

Moore was able to tip the rebound out to the perimeter. Jones corralled the loose ball, shot an airball, but the ball landed right into the hands of Wendell Moore who threw the ball towards the basket and as the buzzer sounded the ball came through the end and Duke is going back to Durham with a 98-96 overtime victory over North Carolina.

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Exactly eight years ago today No. 0 Austin Rivers hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer in regulation to defeat the Tar Heels and today it was No. 0 Wendell Moore who sent the Tar Heels crowd home upset.

Tre Jones led the way with 28 points, Cassius Stanley fouled out in overtime with 22 points, while Carey ended with his 18 as one of the heroes, Wendell Moore, finished with 17 points.

Jack White and Matthew Hurt did not score while Jordan Goldwire, Alex O’Connell, Joey Baker, and Javin DeLaurier all combined for 13 points.

Duke knows all too well about how missed free throws can hurt you in a game and North Carolina going just 21-of-38 from the charity stripe was a major factor in Duke getting back in the game in regulation.

North Carolina did outrebound Duke, 51-42, but it was the Blue Devils who came up with the biggest rebounds of the night that led to the win.

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This will be an extremely good test for Duke, an NCAA Tournament-like test, as coming off of this grueling and emotional win, the Blue Devils have to face the No. 8 Florida State Seminoles on Monday night back in Cameron Indoor Stadium.