Against all odds, the outmanned and outmuscled No. 20 Duke Blue Devils hung around just long enough for a miraculous 74-73 win over No. 5 North Carolina on Wednesday night.
Marshall Plumlee dealt with foul trouble all night long. Matt Jones suffered an ankle injury midway through the first half and did not return. Brice Johnson was playing like a Player of the Year candidate who knew the whole world was watching.
And yet, the Blue Devils never fell behind by more than eight points, eventually going on a late run for a come-from-behind victory on the road against their loathed rivals, proving to both themselves and everyone else that they can beat anyone.