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Duke fan drills half-court shot on College GameDay, predicts blowout of North Carolina
Duke fans hope to be celebrating well into Saturday night as their beloved Blue Devils host rival North Carolina in a primetime showdown on ESPN.
But several hours before No. 2 Duke (18-2, 10-0 ACC) tries to extend its winning streak to 15 and stay perfect in the ACC against the struggling Tar Heels (13-9, 6-4), the Cameron Crazies got the party started on Saturday morning during ESPN’s College GameDay. Duke student Raphael Lee, a junior biology major from Cary, N.C., got the opportunity of a lifetime in getting a chance to make a half-court shot at Cameron Indoor Stadium on national TV.
There were $19,000 at stake, with 19 seconds put on the shot clock, so Lee was going to get multiple chances to hit a heave.
After his first 2 attempts were off the mark, the third time was indeed the charm. Lee drained his third attempt at glory, and the shot barely touched the rim, setting off a wild celebration on the court with Lee and the GameDay crew as well as bedlam in the stands.
Lee got the big fat check for $19,000 and made a big, bold prediction for Saturday night’s game, which will tip off at 6:30 p.m. ET.
“Blowout. Blowout win,” declared Lee, who said he would use the money to spend on spring break and to help his brother with student loans.
A blowout wouldn’t be a surprise, either. The Blue Devils are favored by 13.5 points, via ESPN Bet.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.