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For the second time this season, the Duke Blue Devils and Boston College Eagles waged a collegiate basketball battle that was all any fan could ask for. And for the second time this season, the Blue Devils topped the Eagles by a scant two points, this time for the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship.

For Duke, a season ending two game losing streak was quickly laid to rest with their sweep through the tournament. The final tournament victory, 78-76, came over the upstart Eagles, a newcomer to the ACC landscape. The win gave the Blue Devils, now 30-3 on the season, their 16th ACC tournament title all time.

In what can only be categorized as complete domination, seven of those titles have come in the past eight years. As a matter of fact, since the 1998 tournament, Duke is 25-2 in this annual ACC event.

J.J. Redick made yet another case for NCAA player of the year awards with two huge 3-pointers down the stretch. The sharp-shooting guard continuously connected from International waters, displaying both the range and the quick release that pro scouts look for.

Redick also ended three straight possessions early in the second half with three pointers, giving the Dukies a 10-point lead at the time, 57-47. For the game, the jump shooting specialist would notch 26 points, primarily on his 7 for 11 from beyond the arc. His stellar play led to his being named the tournament MVP.

After his Sunday performance, Redick becomes aneven more tantalizing pick in the NBA draft. His clutch play and ability to shoot under pressure should make pro scouts take another look at a player many consider a good collegian but a suspect NBA prospect.

For Boston College it was a disappointing end to their inaugural ACC season. After knocking off perennial power North Carolina in the semifinals, the Eagles were ready to make yet another statement in their rematch with the Blue Devils

Though they would come up short for the second time this season, they battled back from that 57-47 deficit to take actually take a 71-68 lead. Behind All American Craig Smith's 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists BC looked poised to take home the championship trophy. But it was then that Redick stepped up to hit his two clutch threes to give Duke back the lead.

Smith played all 40 minutes and made two clutch free throws late to give BC a chance. But the power forward will long remember a short jumper in the post that fell off the rim in the closing minute.

With the loss, the Eagles dropped to 26-7 for the season. Six of those losses came against ACC foes. In fact, BC got out of the gate slowly in conference play losing their first three conference games. But on Sunday, they showed the nation that they were a legitimate NCAA contender for a berth in the Final Four.

In the ACC finals, it was two college basketball titans, each led by an outstanding coach and a NBA prospect or two, doing battle for all to watch and enjoy. It was a terrific game, a tantalizing warm up for the month of March.

In fact, it would not be surprising to see these two teams doing battle one more time in the NCAA tournament. BC would certainly love to have yet another shot at Redick and the Blue Devils.