Twitter was ablaze with anticipation. The graphics were made. The attention of the lacrosse world was on the matchup between two of the top teams in the nation, Duke and North Carolina — specifically the head-to-head between two of the presumptive Tewaaraton Award frontrunners in Michael Sowers and Chris Gray.

Both led their teams in points and anchor their respective offenses from x. Not to mention, both had a knack for making highlight-reel goals along the way.

The matchup between the Blue Devils and Tar Heels lived up to the hype and then some, and Gray and Sowers were factors in the decision. However, the Thursday night classic might be defined by the depth of talent that each team possessed — a trait that could be key to either’s run to a national title come next month.

Duke’s Joe Robertson, who missed all of the 2020 season after tearing his ACL, scored the game-winning goal in overtime to seal his team’s 12-11 victory over its bitter rivals — a falling-down effort where he managed to place the ball in the top right corner of the cage, past a sprawling Collin Krieg.

JOE ROBERTSON

FALLING DOWN.

GAME.@DukeMLAX wins an OT classic 12-11 over @UNCMensLacrosse. pic.twitter.com/EfMhqKeD1W

— US Lacrosse Magazine (@USLacrosseMag) April 2, 2021

Mike Adler made 12 of his 17 saves in the first half to keep the Blue Devils in the game — a season-high for Adler one game after the buzzer-beating save to down Syracuse. Underclassmen Brennan O’Neill and Dyson Williams each chipped in two goals to the Duke effort.

Sowers was faceguarded for most of the night and managed just one goal — the lowest point total of his entire college lacrosse career. However, he initiated the final play that ended in Robertson’s game-winning goal.

Simply put, the top team in the country beat the best team it might play all season largely without the production of its top player. Duke is much more than Michael Sowers, and it proved that Thursday night.

North Carolina had the better of the play throughout the first half, splitting 12 faceoffs and maintaining possession in a fast-paced first 30 minutes. The Tar Heels put 18 shots on goal to the Blue Devil’s 11, but Adler’s 12 saves helped keep his team within striking distance.

Adler made a sequence of saves at the end of the first half, stymieing Tanner Cook in front of the cage twice in a matter of seconds. The Saint Joseph’s transfer took over the starting job from Turner Uppgren in the preseason and has steadily improved ever since.

MIKE ADLER SAID

YOU. SHALL. NOT. PASS.

Adler has 12 first-half saves but @UNCMensLacrosse leads @DukeMLAX 6-5 at the half. pic.twitter.com/US4ic9AVhq

— US Lacrosse Magazine (@USLacrosseMag) April 1, 2021

Last week, Adler made the point-blank save at the buzzer to seal a victory over Syracuse.  This week, he notched his season-high in the most anticipated matchup of the 2021 season.

North Carolina pushed its lead to three goals in the third quarter thanks to Cook and Justin Anderson, but Duke soon found its offensive rhythm. The Blue Devils dropped six third-quarter goals, including two from Robertson and freshman Brennan O’Neill.

Owen Caputo also chipped in a highlight-worthy diving goal.

What a goal by @owen_caputo to tie it all up at !#GoDuke pic.twitter.com/XKlcoQGvRg

— Duke Men's Lacrosse (@DukeMLAX) April 2, 2021

After a back-and-forth third quarter, Krieg and Adler settled in again during a fourth quarter that saw just one goal. Anderson worked through a pick and tied the game at 11-11 with 2:57 left.

Krieg was strong for North Carolina in the cage, making 14 saves and two in the overtime period. Anderson had a team-high three points, along with Gray, to lead the Tar Heels.

Duke caused a turnover in the North Carolina defensive zone with 30 seconds left, and O’Neill’s diving attempt with 10 seconds remaining hit the crossbar.

Both teams had multiple chances to win the game in the overtime period, with Jake Naso winning possession to start the period and Krieg stopping two Blue Devils’ shots early on. Adler made a save with 1:51 remaining before Gray stripped him of the ball and almost got the game-winner.

Instead, Gray’s shot went wide and Duke took over on the final possession, where Robertson ended it.