The Clemson men’s basketball team was defeated by the NC State Wolfpack by a score of 78-77 at Littlejohn Coliseum on Saturday night.
It would come down to the final possession with nine seconds left, when Wolfpack guard DJ Horne would score a shot from the elbow to give NC State their first lead since the beginning of the second frame. The Tigers would be unable to respond, snapping their three-game winning streak and their six-game winning streak over the Wolfpack.
The Tigers (17-8, 7-7 ACC) were down for a majority of the first half, but were able to get back in the contest and begin to pull away on a 20-2 run between the first and second half. They would lead by as much as 12 points before NC State would surge back.
The Wolfpack (16-9, 8-6 ACC) would find success from the pressure they brought onto the Clemson court on Saturday night. Head coach Kevin Keatts brought a full court press and a gritty squad to attempt to snap their losing streak against the Tigers, and they would lead by as much as ten in the first frame.
While down by a double-digit lead, the Tigers were able to bring the game back within four before the first half buzzer. The first play came from Joe Girard III, who took on NC State forward DJ Burns Jr. by himself, heaving up a deep three from the logo and cashed in.
A play later, former NC State-turned Tiger Jack Clark would get his moment to shine against his former team. The forward would block a tough shot off the glass by Burns and give Clemson another possession.
The Tigers had the ball once again, and this time, Chase Hunter would get the spotlight. The redshirt senior would bury a stepback three and Clemson was down four.
Despite the Wolfpack having time to take a shot before the horn, the spotlight would shift to R.J. Godfrey, stuffing the final Wolfpack three-point attempt of the half and the momentum at Littlejohn Coliseum completely shifted back to the home side.
Clemson would get the lead back in the second half, and it would come through Hunter again. The guard caught a transition pass from Girard, putting up a corner three-pointer and cashing in.
Toward the middle of the second half, the Pack would be able to slowly get their way back into the game. While holding the Tigers to a few scoring droughts throughout the half, they would be able to get their way back into a one-score game with seven minutes remaining.
The Tigers had their moments, but NC State continued to respond. Clemson would go up by four points with about a minute remaining in the contest from a Girard stepback jumper. A play later, NC State’s Michael O’Connell would respond with a layup.
After Girard turned the ball over a play later, a foul called on the Syracuse transfer would be issued a few seconds later. The Wolfpack would make one of their two attempts, and Horne would put the visiting side up with a few seconds to go.
Girard would lead the scoring with 23 points, as well as adding three assists. PJ Hall added 18 points and seven rebounds of his own as well. Off the bench, Godfrey would add ten points and six boards.
“Obviously, a loss is not a step in a direction where you want to go, but you have to bounce back,” Hall said after the loss.”It’s time to get back out there and win the next one. It’s a tough pill to swallow.”
The Tigers will be back in action on Wednesday night, where they will look to seek revenge once again, traveling to Georgia Tech to take on the Yellow Jackets on Wednesday night.
