Duke staffers ‘got punched in the face’ as UNC fans stormed court after upset win, coach says…Read more

Duke head coach Jon Scheyer said some members of his staff were “punched in the face” when North Carolina fans rushed the court after the Tar Heels’ 71–68 win over the Blue Devils. No. 14 UNC secured the victory over No. 4 Duke when Seth Trimble hit a go-ahead three-pointer with 0.4 seconds remaining. Fans initially stormed the floor thinking the game was over but were asked to return to the stands after officials put time back on the clock.

Scheyer said his main concern was the safety of his players and staff, describing a chaotic scene in which people were shoved and nearly trampled, including members of his own family. While acknowledging North Carolina earned the win, he called the loss heartbreaking and said the postgame incident overshadowed the moment.

UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham said he apologized and noted that several people were knocked down during the court storming. He explained that in typical situations, staff form a line near the benches to help clear the court safely once a game has officially ended.