Kon Knueppel scored 17 points and No. 1 Duke held off a furious second half rally by North Carolina to beat its rival for the third time this season, 74-71 on Friday night to reach the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament championship game.

There was a development in the ACC Tournament on Thursday that could have ramifications at both ends of the bracket. Duke All-American freshman Cooper Flagg suffered a sprained ankle in the first half of the Blue Devils' win over Georgia Tech in the ACC quarterfinals.

ACC Player of the Year Cooper Flagg was ruled out for Duke's conference tournament semifinal matchup with North Carolina on Friday night in Charlotte. Flagg sprained his left ankle in the first half of Duke's quarterfinal victory over Georgia Tech on Thursday and did not return to the game.

"I was not in the room for any of that." Chairman of the NCAA Men's Basketball Selection Committee and UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham explained the process behind the Tar Heels getting into the tournament. pic.twitter.com/vAD7qu4s3F

Matt Norlander and Tim Doyle join Hakem Dermish break down North Carolina being the final team in the NCAA Tournament