University of North Carolina Athletics
On This Day in Carolina History
June 21, 1999 | General
Billy Cunningham closed out his home career at North Carolina in dynamic fashion, leading the Tar Heels to a 71-66 win over fifth-ranked Duke.
This game also was the last played by Carolina in Woollen Gymnasium. Carmichael Auditorium opened the following season.
Cunningham scored 25 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in sparking the UNC victory. Carolina had also beaten Duke, 65-62, in Durham earlier in the year, giving the Tar Heels their first regular-season sweep of the Blue Devils since 1960.
Ray Respess, another Carolina senior, added 12 points by hitting six of nine shots from the field before fouling out. Sophomore Bob Lewis was the only other UNC player in double figures, hitting eight of 15 shots for 20 points. Lewis also pulled down nine rebounds as the Tar Heels won the battle of the boards, 45-33.
Carolina hit 55.1 percent of its shots from the field, including 13 of 19 in the second half (68.4 percent). Duke shot only 39.3 percent from the floor, making 24 of 61 field goal attempts.
Steve Vacendak led the Ble Devil scoring with 21 points and Hack Tison added 18.
