Marvin Bagley III Ignited A Duke Comeback Win Over Rival North Carolina

It was senior night in Durham on Saturday, but freshman Marvin Bagley III was the one that provided the spark for the Duke Blue Devils.

Duke trailed by 10 at the half, but the Blue Devils outscored UNC by 20 in the second half, a furious performance led by Bagley that electrified the crowd at Cameron Indoor on Saturday night.

Bagley was dominant, scoring 21 points and snagging 15 rebounds in the 64-54 win. The top NBA prospect in college basketball, Bagley was the difference in a game where a “zombie” Duke team looked sluggish in the first half before catching fire in the second.

Look at him track down a rebound, drive to the basket and then follow his own shot for a dunk here.

Grayson Allen also had 15 points on his senior night, but more importantly embarked on a lifelong friendship with 2 Chainz on Saturday afternoon. He also got a big hug from Coach K when he checked out of the game.

Both teams are primed for NCAA tournament appearances despite the result here, but perhaps the most stunning fact about the Duke/UNC rivalry is just how balanced its been over the last 100 or so meetings.

Who knows what happens for either team over the next few weeks, but it’s always good to be a basketball fan on Tobacco Road.