Can the Tigers Claw Back After a Narrow Defeat to the Wolfpack at Littlejohn Coliseum?
In a closely contested battle at Littlejohn Coliseum, the Clemson Tigers fell just short against the North Carolina State Wolfpack with a final score of 78-77. The Tigers now stand with an even record, while the Wolfpack improved their tally in what was an intense conference game. Despite a resilient effort, Clemson's late surge wasn't enough to secure victory.
The home crowd of 9,000 fans witnessed a game that was neck and neck throughout, with four ties and seven lead changes keeping everyone on edge. The Tigers showcased their offensive capabilities by shooting 53 percent from two-point range and an impressive 82 percent from the free-throw line. Their efforts in scoring were balanced across halves with 35 points before intermission and an improved output of 42 points in the second half.
Clemson's performance inside was particularly noteworthy as they outscored their opponents in paint points by a margin of 34 to 32. They also capitalized on second-chance opportunities by scoring eight points off them compared to just one by North Carolina State. However, turnovers proved costly for Clemson; they gave up six points off turnovers while managing only eleven assists to eleven turnovers.
Defensively, Clemson managed two blocks and two steals but struggled to contain North Carolina State's sharpshooters who hit nine out of twenty attempts from beyond the arc (45 percent). The Wolfpack also had a solid night from field goal range at 49 percent overall.
The visiting team demonstrated strong defensive efforts as well with five blocks and eight steals contributing to their win. They were particularly effective in converting turnovers into points, scoring nine off Tiger giveaways. Additionally, North Carolina State showed depth in rebounding with thirty-one total rebounds including twenty-five defensive boards which helped limit Clemson’s chances for additional shots.
As both teams fought hard until the last buzzer sounded at midnight Eastern Time, it was ultimately North Carolina State who edged out this nail-biter thanks largely due to maintaining composure during critical moments down the stretch.
Looking ahead after this heartbreaker loss for fans of Clemson University basketball team will be another challenging matchup as they travel away from home turf. The next contest is set against Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Hank McCamish Pavilion located in Atlanta on February 21st at 7:00 PM Eastern Time where supporters can tune into ACC Network channel number six hundred twelve for live coverage.