Memorable Moments at Cameron Indoor Stadium: 31-40

This season Duke is honoring the 75th anniversary of Cameron Indoor Stadium. The legendary arena has hosted dozens of memorable men's basketball games over its 75-year history. Each Sunday, check back with GoDuke.com to learn more about 75 of the significant contests that took place in one of the nation's most historic venues, in chronological order.

This week we bring you moments 31-40.

BILL FOSTER ERA

31. Jan. 14, 1978 – Duke 92, No. 2 North Carolina 84

Duke finished last in the ACC four straight seasons between 1974-77 and came into this game having lost eight straight games (and 16 of 17) to rival UNC. But 1978 was a new era at Duke with freshman Gene Banks joining sophomore center Mike Gminski and junior guard Jim Spanarkel to form one of the most powerful trios in college basketball. Phil Ford scored 29 for UNC, but Gminski matched that with 29 of his own, Spanarkel added 23 and Coach Bill Foster's zone forced Ford into 10 turnovers as Duke knocked off the Heels.

32. Jan. 28, 1979 – No. 7 Duke 69, No. 13 Marquette 64

Duke basketball had been distributed by C.D. Chesley on the ACC network since the 1950s, but this NBC game was the first network televised game from Cameron. Former Marquette coach Al McGuire did the game with Billy Packer and Dick Enberg. They were located behind the scorer's table, instead of the crow's nest. Network execs were so concerned about the reputation of the Cameron Crazies that the game was broadcast on a brief tape delay. Nothing obscene had to be bleeped and the Devils rode 23 points by Gene Banks and 22 by Mike Gminski to the victory.

33. Feb. 24, 1979 – No. 6 Duke 47, No. 4 North Carolina 40

Duke trailed UNC by one game heading into the regular season finale in Cameron – which was also senior day for Jim Spanarkel. UNC Coach Dean Smith went to the delay game from the opening tap, hoping to pull Duke out of its zone. Duke's Bill Foster refused to spread his defense and the first-half turned into a deep freeze. Duke took a 7-0 halftime lead as UNC attempted just three shots in the period – and none of them drew iron, resulting in what is thought to be the first “Air Ball!” chant in basketball history. The second half was played normally – the 40-40 tie giving Duke the unusual win and a share of the ACC regular season title.

MIKE KRZYZEWSKI ERA

34. Feb. 28, 1981 – Duke 66, No. 11 North Carolina 65 OT

Duke was an NIT team in Mike Krzyzewski's first season and UNC would reach the national title game before losing to Indiana. But on senior night for Gene Banks and Kenny Dennard, the Devils hung with the favored Tar Heels into the final minute. With the Heels up two points with one second left, Duke needed a miracle – and the senior combo of Dennard and Banks provided it. Dennard, inbounding from midcourt, found Banks at the top of the key and his shot at the buzzer, barely grazing the outstretched fingers of UNC center Sam Perkins, swished to force overtime. Banks, who finished with 25 points, scored the game-winner in the extra period on a put-back.

35. Feb. 24, 1982 – Duke 73, Clemson 72 3 OT

The 1982 season may have been the worst year in modern Duke history, but it included one positive note for that team's one genuine star. Vince Taylor, a slim, 6-5 guard from Lexington, Ky., scored a career high 35 points in his senior night game, including the game-winner in triple-overtime as Duke edged Clemson.

36. Jan. 21, 1984 – No. 1 North Carolina 78, Duke 73

Mike Krzyzewski had to build his program in the shadow of Dean Smith's juggernaut. The mighty Tar Heels, led by All-Americans Michael Jordan and Sam Perkins, were unbeaten and ranked No. 1 when they came to Cameron for a game that was curiously untelevised – it was supposed to be part of the ACC's pay-per-view Season Ticket, but that program was blocked by the courts. The game was a thriller, marked by a temper tantrum by UNC's Smith, who pounded on the scorer's table and hit the controls for the scoreboard (giving his team a quick 20 points!) – yet didn't get a technical foul. Neither did UNC assistant Bill Guthridge, who chased the officials off the court at halftime. After suffering the late-game loss, Krzyzewski startled the media by complaining about “a double standard” in the ACC. The next week, Duke AD Tom Butters gave the young coach a new five-year contract. Six weeks later, Duke stunned the Tar Heels in the ACC Tournament semifinals in Greensboro.

37. Feb. 23, 1985 – No. 6, Duke 67, No. 8 Georgia Tech 62

During the mid-1980s, Duke and Georgia Tech were the two ACC programs on the rise, behind young coaches Mike Krzyzewski and Bobby Cremins. The duels were also symbolized by the rivalry between guards Johnny Dawkins and Mark Price. On this occasion, Price won the head-to-head matchup 26-8, but Duke won the game as David Henderson and Mark Alarie did the scoring, while sophomore point guard Tommy Amaker ran the show – eight assists, no turnovers, four steals.

38. Feb. 9, 1986 – No. 4 Duke 75, No. 2 Georgia Tech 59

Georgia Tech started the season ranked No. 1 and defeated Duke in late January in Atlanta. Just weeks later, Duke surged ahead in the rivalry as Johnny Dawkins outscored Mark Price 22-12 and Tommy Amaker harassed the Georgia Tech star into eight turnovers. The Devils would climb past Georgia Tech in the next week's polls and would go on to the school's first No. 1 national finish. This win would also be the first of four nationally televised weekend games from Cameron – four games that ESPN would use to establish Cameron as the quintessential college basketball venue.

39. Feb. 16, 1986 – No. 2 Duke 75, No. 14 Notre Dame 74

A week after the satisfying win over Georgia Tech, Duke took on All-American David Rivers and the Irish, less than 24 hours after pulling out a thrilling victory at N.C. State. Johnny Dawkins was the star of both wins. Against the Irish, Mark Alarie actually led all scorers with 22 points, but it was Dawkins who blocked Rivers' potential game-winning shot in the final seconds.

40. Feb. 22, 1986 – No. 2 Duke 93, No. 10 Oklahoma 84

The third of Duke's four nationally televised home games to close out the '86 season was a showcase for senior David Henderson, who poured in 28 points and led the Devils with eight rebounds to help Duke edge the powerful Sooners.

Past games:

EDDIE CAMERON ERA

1. Jan. 6, 1940 – Duke 36, Princeton 27
2. Feb. 20, 1941 – Duke 35, North Carolina 33
3. Feb. 27, 1942 – Duke 41, North Carolina 40 (OT)

GERRY GERARD ERA

4. Feb. 16, 1946 – North Carolina 54, Duke 44
5. Mar. 8, 1947 – N.C. State 50, North Carolina 48
6. Feb. 4, 1949 – Duke 73, No. 15 NYU 44
7. Jan. 7, 1950 – Duke 58, No. 7 N.C. State 55

HAROLD BRADLEY ERA

8. Dec. 1, 1951 – Duke 85, Temple 48
9. Feb. 29, 1952 – No. 15 Duke 94, North Carolina 64
10. Mar. 8, 1954 – No. 18 N.C. State 75, No. 9 George Washington 73
11. Feb. 4, 1956 – No. 10 Duke 65, No. 9 North Carolina 59
12. Dec. 18, 1956 – No. 13 Duke 85, No. 7 Kentucky 84
13. Mar. 1, 1957 – No. 1 North Carolina 86, Duke 72
14. Jan. 27, 1958 – Duke 72, No. 1 West Virginia 68
15. Feb. 26, 1958 – No. 6 Duke 59, No. 9 North Carolina 46
16. Feb. 14, 1959 – Duke 64, Navy 63

VIC BUBAS ERA

17. Feb. 4, 1961 – No. 4 Duke 81, No. 5 North Carolina 77
18. Dec. 5, 1961 – No. 7 Duke 117, Davidson 72
19. Dec. 28, 1962 – No.8 Duke 85, Princeton 74
20. Jan. 26, 1963 – No. 4 Duke 111, No. 6 West Virginia 71
21. Feb. 23, 1963 – No. 2 Duke 106, North Carolina 93
22. Feb. 15, 1964 – No. 4 Duke 82, No. 5 Davidson 75
23. Feb. 11, 1965 – No. 5 Duke, 136, Virginia 72
24. Dec. 10, 1965 – No. 6 Duke 82, No. 1 UCLA 66
25. Jan. 3, 1967 – Duke 89, Penn State 84
26. Mar. 2, 1968 – No. 10 Duke 87, No. 2 North Carolina 86 (3 OTs)
27. Mar. 1, 1969 – Duke 87, No. 2 North Carolina 81
28. Feb. 1, 1971 – Duke 82, No. 10 South Carolina 71
29. Jan. 22, 1972 – Duke 76, No. 3 North Carolina 74
30. Feb. 3, 1973 – Duke 85, No. 3 Maryland 81

Memorable Moments at Cameron Indoor Stadium: 31-40

Related News

Related Videos

Duke information