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ACC title on the line when bitter rivals UNC, Duke clash

Mar 8, 2008 - 2:39 PM No. 1 North Carolina (28-2) at No. 5 Duke (26-3) 9:00 pm EST

DURHAM, North Carolina (Ticker) - College basketball's fiercest rivalry will have more than just bragging rights on the line Saturday.

The Atlantic Coast Conference title is on the line when top-ranked North Carolina visits No. 5 Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

The Tar Heels (28-2, 13-2) and Blue Devils (26-3, 13-2) are tied for first place with just this one game remaining in the regular season. This will be the fifth straight season that either North Carolina or Duke claim at least a share of the ACC crown.

North Carolina has won seven straight contests since an 89-76 loss to Duke on February 6, including a 90-77 victory over Florida State on Tuesday.

Tyler Hansbrough once again led the way with 20 points and nine rebounds in the victory, and leads the team in both categories at 23.3 and 10.4 per contest, respectively.

The Tar Heels have also gotten a boost with the return of Ty Lawson, who has averaged 7.0 points and 4.0 assists in a pair of games off the bench since returning from a sprained left ankle. The speedy sophomore had missed six games with the injury, including the contest against Duke.

The Blue Devils have won four straight games, including an 86-70 triumph over Virginia on Wednesday. Gerald Henderson led five players in double figures with 19 points and freshman Kyle Singler added 18 and eight rebounds for Duke, which shot 12-of-27 from the arc.

The Blue Devils have lost the last two home games to North Carolina and have not swept the season series since the 2003-04 campaign.

Duke has gone 14-0 at home this season, while North Carolina is 10-0 in road contests.