Without Cooper Flagg, Duke got everything it could handle from North Carolina — and an unexpected gift that proved decisive in a 74-71 win.

Friday had all the makings of a classic win for UNC in a season that can best be described as a disappointment. Then Jae'Lyn Withers stepped over the line — literally. The Tar Heels lost a game-tying free throw against rival Duke,

North Carolina just blew its shot at the ACC Tournament championship game in perhaps the worst way possible. With just 4.1 seconds left in the semifinal matchup against No. 1 seed Duke on Friday, UNC was called for a lane violation on a potential game-tying free throw.

While the focus will undoubtedly skew toward Duke — with or without Cooper Flagg — UNC, Clemson and Louisville are coming off thrilling finishes in their own quarterfinals.

Duke forward Cooper Flagg will miss the team's clash with North Carolina in the 2025 ACC Tournament semifinal on Friday due to an ankle injury, the school announced. The standout freshman suffered the injury in the first half of the Blue Devils' 78-70 victory over Georgia Tech in the quarterfinal round of the conference tournament on Thursday.

Cooper Flagg and Maliq Brown have been ruled out for No. 1 Duke's game against North Carolina in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament on Friday night because of injuries. The team announced the status for each player a little less than two hours before tipoff of their semifinal matchup with the rival Tar Heels.