North Carolina, still smarting from that last-second loss to Duke in February, came out on fire to take an early 22-5 lead but this time the Tar Heels didn't allow the Devils to come back as the Heels won the game 88-70 and won the ACC regular season title. (3/3)

The game looked in doubt for a few minutes as Harrison Barnes and Tyler Zeller had to sit with four fouls each and Duke cut the margin to 11 at 75-64 with four minutes to go.

In that first game, Duke outscored the Heels 13-2 down the stretch to take the win in Chapel Hill. This time over the last four minutes, Kendall Marshall dropped in a long two, Barnes calmly dropped in a three and Zeller scored five points to keep the Devils at bay.

Carolina had held a commanding 48-24 halftime lead before the Devils pulled to within 11 with six minutes to go. But the Tar Heels held it together, continued to be aggressive and outscored the Blue Devils 13-6 the rest of the way scoring on six of their last seven possessions of the game.

All five starters scored in double figures for the Tar Heels but the leading scorer was a surprise - Kendall Marshall with 20. Marshall, who also had 10 assists, pushed the ball deep and scored or dished it off for layups. He also hit a three midway through the second half that stopped a Devils mini-run and put the lead back over 20 at 71-50.

Zeller, who had 10 rebounds, scored 19 on a nine of 11 effort from the floor. Barnes finished with 16 points while Henson added 13 and Reggie Bullock 12. UNC outrebounded Duke 45-28.

UNC coach Roy Williams said keys to the game included the attacking style his players employed to begin the game and the fact that Duke made its run mostly making two pointers rather than three pointers like the first game.

Carolina outshot Duke 54 percent to 41 percent. The Devils hit only six of 21 three pointers and only 12 of 21 free throws.

"When we don't shoot well, their talent and our demeanor after we miss is a bad combination," Duke's Coach K said.

Coach K said the best team won and that the Devils are fortunate to split games with the Heels. Of course, the Devils and the Tar Heels could meet again in the finals of the ACC Tournament to settle a best of three.

The Tar Heels, as the No. 1 seed, will play Friday at noon against the winner of Thursday's No. 8 vs. No. 9 game.

North Carolina ends the regular season with a 27-4 and 14-2 in the ACC while Duke finishes at 26-5 and 13-3 in the league.

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