CLEMSON, SC – North Carolina fought back on Tuesday from a 16-point deficit against Clemson, which drew 12:38 within four points. The Tar Heels were then offensively self-destructing and missed 13 of their last 15 goal attempts and capped five turnovers by losing 63-50 at Littlejohn Coliseum.
The Tar Heels (11-6, 6-4 ACC), who have won six of their last seven games, emerged from a week-long hiatus. Clemson, who has lost four of his last five games by an average of 24.5 points, took control in the first six minutes of play with an 11-0 run and increased his margin to 32-16 late in the first half.
UNC were efficient from the break and used an 8-0 speed to come back within a few figures. Garrison Brooks made a leap with 12:38 to play to reduce the Tar Heels’ deficit to 42-38. It was all Clemson from that time forward as the home team made seven of its last 13 field goal attempts.
UNC scored season lows in points (50), halves (21), field goals (17) and field goals (44).
Day’Ron Sharpe (16 points on 6-out-8 shooting) was the lone Tar Heel in double figures. Caleb Love and Kerwin Walton each scored nine points, while Brooks added eight points and nine rebounds. Hunter Tyson led the Tigers by 16 points on 5-of-11 shooting.
UNC outscored Clemson 38-28, including a 7-4 lead on the attacking glass, but only took a 6-5 lead in the second-half points. The tar heels were surpassed in the paint, 26-18.
The Tigers turned around 17 times and scored 13 points due to the errors. Clemson’s past five opponents averaged 18.6 points out of 13 turnovers, but UNC could not continue the trend and scored just six points on seven forced turnovers.
NCAA Resume Update
With the recent relegation of Pittsburgh – consecutive losses against Wake Forest, UNC and Notre Dame – the Tar Heels were back on track for a victory in the first quarter to resume their NCAA tournament. Tuesday’s loss dropped Roy Williams’ squad to 0-5 against first-quarter opponents this season, with four more potential Q1 games left.
Lack of charity
UNC missed 10 of its 21 free throw attempts in Tuesday’s loss. The Tar Heels have shot 47.2 percent of the charity streak over their last three games (25-of-53).
Bacot locked
Armando Bacot was UNC’s best player in ACC play, averaging 13.4 points on 61.5 percent shooting. Clemson apparently placed the second year at the top of his reconnaissance report as he kept himself without a field goal effort in the first half and blocked his quiet effort after halftime.
Bacot, who averaged 8.7 field goal attempts through UNC’s first nine ACC games, finished in 19 minutes with one point, three rebounds, two turnovers and four errors.
Stumbling start
The Tar Heels played very poor first halves this season, although Tuesday’s effort is definitely for the worst performance. UNC trailed 2-16 with 2:10 left to play despite shooting 46.2 percent. Ten turnovers and the lack of offensive rebounds up to that point limited the Tar Heels to 28 percent of their possessions to points, while Clemson was more effective with 13 points on 27 possessions.
UNC’s 33-21 deficit leveled its biggest halftime deficit of the season (Texas, Iowa).
Tweet from Note
Tonight is the first time that UNC has not scored a double-digit double since a 78-55 victory over Rutgers on December 28, 2010 in Madison Square Garden.
– Pat James (@ patjames24) 3 February 2021
Following
The Tar Heels leave for Cameron Indoor Stadium on Saturday (18:00 / ESPN) to play opponent Duke. This is the first game between the two programs as unclassified teams since February 27, 1960. The Blue Devils are 7-6 (5-4 ACC) after the 77-75 defeat at Miami on Monday.