Efrem Johnson buried a go-ahead 3-pointer with just two seconds remaining in the first half, capping a late rally to give Clemson a 30-27 halftime lead over North Carolina at the Dean Smith Center on Tuesday.
The Tigers relied on a dominant interior presence to overcome a sluggish start, outscoring the Tar Heels 18-8 in the paint during the opening 20 minutes. RJ Godfrey led the charge for Clemson with nine points and six rebounds, while Johnson added eight points, including the critical final five points of the half. North Carolina (27) controlled much of the early tempo, leading for over 14 minutes of the period.
Behind the 3-point shooting of Derek Dixon and the inside play of Henri Veesaar, the Tar Heels built an early six-point cushion. However, UNC's offense stalled late, enduring a scoring drought after a Veesaar dunk with 2:34 remaining.
Clemson’s bench and transition game proved pivotal in the closing minutes. The Tigers forced six Tar Heel turnovers, converting them into 10 points to swing the momentum heading into the locker room.
Halftime Leaders: Clemson: RJ Godfrey (9 PTS, 6 REB); Efrem Johnson (8 PTS, 3 REB). North Carolina: Henri Veesaar (6 PTS, 3 AST); Derek Dixon (6 PTS, 2 AST).