North Carolina survived an unyielding second-half run by Clemson to secure a 67-63 win at the Dean Smith Center on Tuesday night. In a game defined by massive scoring runs and high-stakes shot-making, the Tar Heels relied on a dominant bench performance and clutch perimeter shooting to outlast the Tigers in a back-and-forth ACC battle.
The Key Takeaway:
The Bench is the difference maker. Although Clemson's starters did most of the heavy lifting, North Carolina's depth prevailed. Powered by a blistering 20-point game by Luka Bogavac, the Tar Heels’ bench outscored the Tigers’ reserves 27–11, supplying the spark it needed when the Tigers began to pull away.
A Tale of Two Halves.
Clemson hit the locker room with all the momentum after Efrem Johnson buried a buzzer-beating three-pointer, giving the Tigers a 30-27 lead at halftime. Clemson’s “In the Paint” dominance was the story from the outset, as it physically overwhelmed UNC to the tune of an 18-8 interior scoring advantage in the first period.
However, the second half belonged to the Tar Heels’ marksmen. UNC exploded for 40 points in the final frame, sparked by a 12-0 run that turned the script on Clemson and drove the team into a desperate chase.
The Bogavac Takeover.
And when North Carolina had a hero in Luka Bogavac, he stepped up to the plate. Bogavac, who played just 23 minutes, was a deep flamethrower, making 6-of-10 from beyond the arc. His back-to-back triples midway through the second half converted a deficit into a lead UNC would never fully relinquish.
Clemson’s Late-Game Heartbreak.
The Tigers didn’t go quietly. The force of nature, RJ Godfrey finished with a game-high 22 points and 9 rebounds on an efficient 10-of-13 shooting. Clemson managed to cut the lead to just 1 point at 64-63, thanks to a Dillon Hunter layup with 18 seconds left to go.
The comeback, ultimately, fell short at the free-throw line. Bogavac iced the game with two pressure-packed free throws, and Seth Trimble added another one to seal a four-point win with the clock running out.