Wolfpack Struggle Late; Fall To Tigers In OT
Clemson, S.C – The NC State Wolfpack traveled to face the Clemson Tigers on Tuesday in a battle of two talented teams in the ACC. Both teams battled hard, but the Tigers walked away with a 74-70 overtime win.
Going into this matchup, these were the top two teams in turnover margin. The Wolfpack not only leads the ACC but also the country, with a +8.6 turnover margin. The Tigers with a +5.0 turnover margin sit second in the ACC and 20th in the nation. The Wolfpack leads the ACC in turnovers forced as they cause teams to turn the ball over 20 times per game while Clemson ranks third in the ACC, causing 18.33 turnovers per game.
This matchup was a battle between a great offense and a great defense as Clemson leads the ACC and ranks third in the nation in scoring defense allowing only 56.2 points per game, and the Wolfpack rank second in the ACC scoring 81 points per game. NC State leads the ACC in field goal percentage (49.2%), and Clemson came in ranked second in the ACC in field goal percentage, limiting opponents to 38.6% shooting per game.
With Braxton Beverly suffering an injury during warmups for the Wolfpack, freshman Cam Hayes got his first start for the Wolfpack. Within the first 8 minutes, both teams defensively were sticking to what they do best, which is, aggressive play. Both teams weren’t able to get into much rhythm, as the score at the under 12 media timeout was 12-10 Wolfpack.
The game was tied at 20 at the 8:05 mark left in the first half before the Wolfpack knocked down back-to-back three-pointers by Shakeel Moore and Devon Daniels to force the Tigers to call a timeout with 7:23 left in the first half.
The Wolfpack closed the half on a 9-2 to take a 39-32 lead at the half. Both teams shot the ball well in the first half, as the Wolfpack shot 15-27 (55.6%) from the field and 6-10 (60%) from three-point range, and the Tigers shot 13-32 (40.6%). The Wolfpack were led by Devon Daniels, with ten points and Jericole Hellems with eight points. The Tigers were led by Clyde Trapp, with nine points, and Nick Honor, with eight points.
Clemson went on a 5-0 run to cut the lead to three at the first media timeout of the second half. Nick Honor scored eight straight points, including two three-pointers for the Tigers, but every time he scored, the Wolfpack came down and matched him as the deficit remained three at the 11:53 mark.
A huge moment of the game occurred with 6:52 left in the game, as preseason first-team All ACC Aamir Simms picked up his first fourth personal foul. With Simms in foul trouble, the majority of the game meant the Tigers had to rely on freshman PJ Hall more than expected. Jericole Hellems fouled out for the Wolfpack at the 4:14 mark left in the game.
NC State hit a cold spot late in the second half not making a field for more than seven minutes which allowed Clemson to cut the lead to one with two minutes remaining. DJ Funderburk hit two clutch free throws with 1:41 left to increase the lead to three up until Nick Honor knocked a huge three with 38 seconds left to tie the game at 62.
Shakeel Moore blocked Nick Honor’s jumper at the end of regulation, sending the game overtime.
The overtime session went back and forth, as each team matched each other basket for a basket before Aamir Simms and Nick Honor took over the game to help the Tigers to jump out to a four-point lead with 50 seconds left in overtime.
The Wolfpack were led by DJ Funderburk, scoring 15 of his 20 in the second half and overtime and Devon Daniels scoring 18. Clemson was led by Nick Honor, with 21 points on 8-of-11 from the field and five-of-six from three-point territory.
“We’re a really good team, but we have to fix the mistakes,” NC State Head Coach Kevin Keates Said following the game.
The Tigers, (9-1,3-1) look stay hot in the ACC, as they head to Chapel Hill, Saturday, January 9th, for a matchup with the Tar Heels that will be televised on ESPN at 7 p.m. The Wolfpack (6-2,2-1) look to bounce back, as they host the Miami Hurricanes Saturday, January 9th at noon.