CHAPEL HILL, N.C., March 5 (UPI) -- Harrison Barnes struck for 18 points Saturday, propelling No. 13 North Carolina to an 81-67 win over No. 4 Duke and the Atlantic Coast Conference crown.
Kendall Marshall netted 15 points and 11 assists and Tyler Zeller scored 14 points for the Tar Heels (24-6, 14-2 ACC), who stole the ACC title from their heated rivals by completing a perfect 15-0 home season and winning 17 of 19 overall.
North Carolina won their last seven games of the regular season and gained the top seed for the ACC Tournament. The Tar Heels also avenged a Feb. 9 defeat at the hands of the Blue Devils.
Duke (27-4, 13-3), meanwhile, lost for the second time in three contests.
Nolan Smith scored 30 points and Seth Curry added 20 for the Blue Devils. The former top-ranked squad will now have to settle for the tourney's second seed.
