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Duke 93, North Carolina 68

Posted: Sunday March 03, 2002 09:05 PM

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DURHAM, North Carolina (Ticker) -- Jason Williams had a memorable final game at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Williams scored 12 of his 37 points in the first four minutes as No. 3 Duke closed out the regular season with a 93-68 drubbing of Atlantic Coast Conference rival North Carolina.

Williams, a junior, was allowed to participate in ceremonies for his final home game because he is on track to graduate in three years. He has already made his intentions known that he will enter the NBA draft.

He drained eight 3-pointers and made 12-of-22 shots for the game en route to his 10th career 30-point outing.

"I don't think the big thing for me to do tonight was scoring," Williams said. "When I prepare and when I become real emotional, I think I do other things, and I think scoring is just a part of that. I think tonight was the first time in a while where I've just been outside of myself." "Jason was spectacular," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "He started us off right away. It was one of the better performances I've seen. I am really happy for him." Duke (26-3, 13-3 ACC) took an 18-6 lead on a three-point play by Williams and never looked back. Carlos Boozer had a dunk for a 38-18 advantage with just under six minutes left and the outcome was never in doubt.

Williams, Boozer and Matt Christensen were all given huge ovations by the Blue Devils' faithful upon exiting. The loudest ovation was for Williams, who left with Duke holding a 93-67 lead and 89 seconds to go.

"I'm really proud of our seniors and the guys who were being recognized in their last game," Krzyzewski said. "We came out and beat a really determined UNC team. I thought they played extremely hard. As a result, we had to play really well." Jason Capel matched a career high with 28 points for North Carolina (8-19, 4-12), which will be in for more punishment Friday when it again meets Duke in the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament.

"He's playing well and shooting the ball well," Tar Heels coach Matt Doherty said of Capel. "He's a senior, so he should step up in this environment and he did. Hopefully we can get another good game out of him, and everyone else needs to step up on Friday. It's taking care of the basketball and that's easier said than done." While the game lacked the drama and excitement of most Duke-Carolina matchups, both coaches had plenty of intensity as Krzyzewski and Doherty each received technical fouls in the first half.

Jason Williams also earned a technical for taunting and North Carolina's Adam Boone and Jawad Williams also received technicals for their part in separate altercations.

That was the only way in which the game personified the rivalry between the schools as the Blue Devils handed the Tar Heels a third straight lopsided loss. Duke posted an 87-58 rout in Chapel Hill on January 31 and defeated the Tar Heels in last year's ACC title game, 79-53.

The Blue Devils have won nine of the last 10 meetings with North Carolina and avenged a home loss to the Tar Heels last season.

The second half merely displayed Duke's athletic superiority over the hapless Heels. Dahntay Jones, who had a pair of huge dunks in the first half, put home another huge jam for a 76-52 cushion with 10:42 remaining.

Boozer finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds for his 13th double-double. Mike Dunleavy scored 17 points and Jones had 10 off the bench.

"It wasn't as easy as it looked," Dunleavy said. "There was a lot of emotion running through everyone and it was hot out there - it's never been that hot in Cameron. It's just the way to go out for those guys. Jason played great, Carlos was great, too, and Matt started and played so well, so it was really exciting for them." Jawad Williams, one of two freshman starters, was the only other Tar Heel in double figures with 14 points. North Carolina was limited to just eight baskets in the first half.

The Tar Heels entered this season with 27 straight NCAA Tournament appearances and 31 straight 20-win seasons. The first streak can only be kept alive by winning the ACC tournament while the second already has been eliminated.