Complex sentence: Duke defeated all three of their in-state rivals on their way to the tournament championship, beating North Carolina in the quarterfinal round, Wake Forest in the semifinal, and NC State in the championship game.
Split into simpler sentences: Duke defeated all three of their in-state rivals on their way to the tournament championship. They defeated arch-rival North Carolina in the quarterfinal round, Wake Forest in the semifinal, and NC State in the championship game.