Former UNC player admits to punching Duke player: ‘That’s free licks’

Former North Carolina guard Theo Pinson added another layer to an already chaotic Tobacco Road rivalry ending by admitting that he punched a Duke player during Saturday night’s court storming in Chapel Hill.

“I punched one of the Duke players,” Pinson said during the livestream. “That’s free licks.”

Pinson’s comments surfaced a day after North Carolina’s dramatic 71-68 win over the Duke Blue Devils, a game decided by Seth Trimble’s corner 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds remaining.

The shot triggered an immediate court rush inside the Dean E. Smith Center, though officials later ruled time remained on the clock, forcing fans to clear the floor so Duke could run a final play.

When Duke’s last-second attempt failed, fans stormed the court again, creating a second and more dangerous surge that overshadowed the rivalry’s latest iconic finish.

Duke coach Jon Scheyer said in his postgame remarks that multiple members of the Blue Devils’ traveling party were struck amid the chaos.

“I’ve got staff members that got punched in the face,” Scheyer said. “My family was pushing people away, trying not to get trampled. That’s not what this game is about.”

North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham said he apologized to Scheyer and confirmed that someone associated with the Duke program was injured, though no details were provided.

Pinson did not specify when or where the punch occurred, nor did he identify the Duke player involved. His admission nonetheless fueled renewed scrutiny of court storming safety. 

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Scheyer said he does not oppose court stormings in principle, but emphasized the need for better protection.

“They won, they should celebrate,” he said. “But we’ve got to get our guys off safely.”

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Duke and UNC face each other again in Durham in the season finale on March 7. 

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