The 2025 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament Semifinals Recap (3-14-25)
By: Xavier Jones
Headline Photo Credit: Travis Cheek-LMS Network
The 2025 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament semifinals, held on March 14 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, featured two thrilling matchups that set the stage for an exciting championship game. The matchups were top-seeded Duke taking on fifth-seeded North Carolina, and second-seeded Louisville facing off against third-seeded Clemson.
#1 Duke vs #5 North Carolina
Top-seeded Duke narrowly defeated fifth-seeded North Carolina 74-71. Despite the absence of star freshman Cooper Flagg due to an ankle injury, the Blue Devils built a commanding 24-point lead by halftime, leading 45-21. However, North Carolina mounted a remarkable second-half comeback, outscoring Duke 47-29. A critical moment occurred with 4.1 seconds remaining when UNC’s Jae’Lyn Withers committed a lane violation on a potential game-tying free throw, preserving Duke’s lead. Kon Knueppel led Duke with 17 points, while Khaman Maluach contributed with 13 points and nine rebounds before fouling out. Van-Allen Lubin was a standout for North Carolina, scoring 20 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. This victory marked Duke’s third win over North Carolina this season.
#2 Louisville vs #3 Clemson
Second-seeded Louisville edged out third-seeded Clemson 76-73. The Cardinals led 33-28 at halftime and extended their lead to 15 points with just over three minutes remaining. Clemson’s Chase Hunter spearheaded a late rally, reducing the deficit to two points with 54 seconds left. However, Louisville’s defense held firm in the final moments to secure the win. Terrence Edwards led the Cardinals with 21 points, and J’Vonne Hadley added 20 points and nine rebounds. Hunter was Clemson’s top performer, scoring 23 points along with four rebounds and four steals.
The championship game between Duke and Louisville promises to be an exciting matchup, with both teams demonstrating resilience and skill in their semifinal victories.
