University of North Carolina Athletics
Brewer: ACC Final Flashback
March 17, 2013 | Men's Basketball, Featured Writers
Carolina in the ACC Tournament
March 3, 1979 ACC Finals
North Carolina-71 Duke 63
by Rick Brewer, Sports Information Director Emeritus
GREENSBORO- Dudley Bradley dominated play on both ends of the court and Mike O'Koren scored 10 points in the final minute as North Carolina won the ACC Tournament with a 71-63 win over Duke.
Bradley hit seven of 11 field goal attempts, scored 16 points, had four assists and made a Tournament record seven steals. Coach Dean Smith called it the best game of his career and he was named the Tournament's most valuable player.
Carolina led just 53-52 with 3:27 left. The Tar Heels increased that advantage to 58-52. Dave Colescott made a pair of free throws. Bradley had a three-point play when he was fouled on a driving layup. After two Duke free throws, Bradley drove by Blue Devil center Mike Gminski for a dunk.
Duke cut the lead to 61-58 with 1:04 to go. That's when O'Koren took over on offense. He hit seven free throws and then added a three-point play when he was fouled while scoring on an offensive rebound.
O'Koren finished with 18 points, eight rebounds and two assists. Also in double figures were Bradley with his 16, Colescott with 11 and Al Wood and Rich Yonakor with 10 each.
Duke's only lead in the game was 2-0. However, the Blue Devils did manage a 39-39 tie in the second half by scoring nine straight points in a 2:29 stretch. But, Wood was fouled while hitting a jumper and made the free throw. Bradley followed with another jump shot as Carolina pushed back ahead.
Carolina, also the ACC regular-season champion, improved to 22-6,
