Henri Veesaar's clutch defense on Cameron Boozer helped seal UNC's win over Duke

An all-time classic game delivered an all-time classic ending.

Seth Trimble delivered the shot of his life to send Duke home, winning 71-68 in front of a LOUD home crowd, but another player was nearly just as involved in that win down the stretch. 

Moments before Seth Trimble delivered the final blow, Henri Veesaar came up clutch on the other end of the court. With the game hanging in the balance on the final plays and Duke pushing for a go-ahead basket, Veesaar stepped up to defend Blue Devils star Cameron Boozer on a drive to the rim.

Boozer, one of the most talented freshmen in the country and a projected lottery pick, had the ball in his hands with a chance to put Duke ahead. But Veesaar stood his ground, contested the shot at the rim, and came up with a massive stop to give the ball back to the Tar Heels with a chance to win.

While Trimble will rightfully receive the glory for ultimately sending Duke back to Durham, it's plays like this from Veesaar that end up winning North Carolina games like this. 

Moments before the crucial stop, Veesaar also knocked down a clutch three-pointer to tie the game at 68, putting the outcome back in the hands of either team and setting the stage for Trimble's game winning shot.

This is exactly the kind of two-way performance Tar Heel fans want to see as the season pushes toward March. Veesaar showed composure, toughness, and the ability to make winning plays when the pressure was at its highest. 

Not to mention, Veesaar didn’t perform to his usual standards in the first half. However, in the second, when it was time to deliver, he did. He stepped up against one of the best players in the country and didn't flinch.

Seth Trimble's shot will live forever in UNC-Duke lore, and deservedly so. But Henri Veesaar's clutch defense and major three-pointer down the stretch deserve their flowers as well.