Social media reacts as UNC's game-tying free throw against Duke negated by costly late whistle

North Carolina was connected the heels (no pun intended) of completing a 24-point comeback against top-ranked Duke successful the ACC semifinal, but a costly mistake ruined their chances.

Ven-Allen Lubin was astatine the enactment with 4.1 seconds to spell for a accidental to necktie the game, and helium made his escaped throw.

However, it was negated by a lane violation.

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North Carolina Tar Heels defender Seth Trimble (7) reacts to a missed accidental aboriginal during the 2nd fractional against the Duke Blue Devils astatine Spectrum Center.  (Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images)

The refs blew the whistle connected Jae'Lyn Withers arsenic Duke, without Cooper Flagg, celebrated. The Blue Devils were capable to sound down a brace of escaped throws, and Lubin missed his three-pointer to nonstop the crippled to overtime, giving Duke a 74-71 win.

While the usurpation was clear, galore fans were upset with the call.

"You bash not telephone these successful those situations man," said 1 idiosyncratic connected X.

"Look however excited that referee was to participate the play and determine the crippled connected an perfectly meaningless violation. Total disgrace," added another.

Wrote 1 more, "as accustomed the refs doing their thing."

But a rarity occurred, arsenic galore different fans came to the officials' defense.

North Carolina Tar Heels defender RJ Davis (4) and defender Seth Trimble (7) respond to a missed accidental aboriginal during the 2nd fractional against the Duke Blue Devils astatine Spectrum Center.  (Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images)

"Man if it’s a usurpation successful the archetypal wherefore isn’t it now? And that was wide arsenic day," 1 station said.

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"I conjecture you could conscionable accidental I benignant of mistimed the shot," Withers said. "I was trying to marque definite I crashed hard to unafraid a rebound successful lawsuit helium did miss."

But UNC refused to blasted the whistle connected the loss.

"It was a batch much to blasted than a lane violation," Lubin said. "We made a ton of mistakes passim the game. We were successful that presumption trying to excavation ourselves retired of it and travel retired with a triumph oregon get to overtime."

"We each made mistakes successful this game," RJ Davis said. "I americium down J-Wit. He has our afloat support, and we would not beryllium successful this presumption without J-Wit. I privation him to clasp his caput high. We each marque mistakes successful this game. It’s not conscionable connected him."

Head manager Hubert Davis besides supported his player.

"Guys, we're not present without J-Wit," Davis said.

North Carolina Tar Heels defender Seth Trimble (7) reacts to losing successful the last seconds to the Duke Blue Devils during the 2nd fractional astatine Spectrum Center.  (Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images)

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UNC's tourney hopes present look to beryllium over. An ACC rubric triumph would person clinched an automatic bid, but the semifinal nonaccomplishment with a sub-par regular play whitethorn not beryllium enough.

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