Ellen Ozier / Reuters

J.J. Redick of Duke scored 22 of his 35 points in the second half to lead the No. 2 Blue Devils to an 87-83 victory over No. 23 North Carolina.

updated 12:50 a.m. ET Feb. 8, 2006

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - J.J. Redick praised the defense he faced and gave himself passing marks for his own performance. Then he saved his highest praise for Duke’s effort against its biggest rival.

“Very few teams playing on the road, in a big game like this, with such a big momentum swing, could have made enough plays to pull out a win,” Redick said. “I think we’re one of those teams that’s capable of doing that.”

The shooting star had 22 of his 35 points in the second half, freshman Josh McRoberts added a season-high 17 points and the second-ranked Blue Devils held off No. 23 North Carolina 87-83 Tuesday night.

Playing for the final time in the Dean Smith Center, Redick was 12-for-22 from the field — including five 3-pointers — and set a career high with four steals. Three of those led to breakaway lay-ups.

“It’s very satisfying to win the ballgame,” Redick said. “I guess I’m leaving here 2-2 at the Dean Dome, which is not bad. To go out with a win as a senior, it feels good.”

His previous best against the Tar Heels was 18 points, but he struggled with his shooting in the previous seven matchups (34 percent). There was no such problem in this one, and Redick saved his best for last.

With Duke (22-1, 10-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) clinging to a one-point lead, Redick calmly swished a 3 over Wes Miller to increase the margin with 1:54 remaining. He later added another with the shot clock winding down to make it a seven-point game.

“You’ve got to give J.J. credit,” North Carolina coach Roy Williams said. “He made two big-time shots.”

It was enough to hold off a furious rally by the Tar Heels (14-6, 5-4) and help the Blue Devils pick up their 16th victory in the past 19 games in this Tobacco Road rivalry. Yet the latest was far from easy.

The Blue Devils opened the second half with 12 straight points to take a 52-35 lead, and North Carolina made it pretty easy with six turnovers in that span. Redick started the run by jumping in the passing lane for a steal that led to a lay-up, and McRoberts had a big role, too.

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He took a beautiful lob pass from Sean Dockery and dunked it over his head, then stepped outside to hit only his second 3-pointer of the season. On the other end, Greg Paulus dived on the floor to complete a steal, and Dockery made it pay off with another 3.

“We knew they were going to make a comeback, I don’t even think we let up,” McRoberts said.

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