DURHAM, N.C. (AP) – Vernon Carey Jr., Tre Jones and No. 12 Duke didn’t need any wild escape to beat rival North Carolina this time. The Blue Devils took care of the Tar Heels with a strong start-to-finish performance – with the only unexpected part being the jolt coming from graduate reserve Justin Robinson. Carey had 25 points and 10 rebounds How to Boost Your Immune System lead the Blue Devils past the Tar Heels 89-76 in Saturday’s regular-season finale, capping a game in which Duke never trailed and played a steady game after inconsistent stretches in recent weeks.
“We actually played even better than what we practiced,” Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. Sure, Carey was dominant inside, while Jones (21 points) and Cassius Stanley (19) turned in their own big outputs. Yet a big piece of Duke’s success was due to Robinson – the son of retired NBA great David Robinson and a former walk-on – having his latest productive outing in what is turning into a growing reserve role.
Robinson matched career highs with 13 points and six rebounds to go with a career-best four blocks for the Blue Devils (25-6, 15-5 Atlantic Coast Conference), including sparking the game-clinching 8-0 run when Duke finally broke free of the Tar Heels (13-18, 6-14). North Carolina guard Christian Keeling, left, and Duke guard Tre Jones chase the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Durham, N.C., Saturday, March 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) “I’m approaching practice the same way, pregame always the same,” Robinson said.
“You just have to have confidence, know what you can do and come out with energy.” This was a rematch of last month’s overtime classic won by the Blue Devils after two buzzer-beating shots – the first by Jones to force overtime, the second a winning putback by Wendell Moore Jr. This one didn´t have the same highlight-reel drama, but still was a tough rivalry fight. The Blue Devils led by 10 late in the first half, but the Tar Heels hung around and twice got within a point in the second half.
Garrison Brooks had 26 points and 13 rebounds to lead UNC, while freshman big man Armando Bacot had 13 points and 12 rebounds. Star point guard Cole Anthony finished with just nine points on 4-for-14 shooting. “They´re a really good team and we were right there at one point,” said senior Brandon Robinson, who left briefly after being hit in the mouth but returned to finish with 11 points. “We just didn’t make the plays …
we just couldn´t get over the hump when they got that lead.” With Duke up 72-67, the 6-foot-9 forward hit Carey inside for a dunk, then came up with a key block of Brooks in the paint at the other end.