NC State Suffers Loss To Clemson In Their First Meeting Of The Season In South Carolina

The first matchup of the season between NC State and Clemson didn’t go NC State’s way down in South Carolina.

NC State fell to Clemson, 81-70, Saturday afternoon at Littlejohn Coliseum.
 NC State never led in the game, but had the deficit down to one possession many times in the second half. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2020/1/4/mens-basketball-pack-falls-to-clemson-81-70.aspx

Pat Andree made three free throws out of the under-12 minute media timeout to bring NC State to within one point, 53-52, with 11:55 to play, but the Pack would not score a point for over four minutes to allow Clemson to build the lead back up to five points.”according to https://gopack.com/news/2020/1/4/mens-basketball-pack-falls-to-clemson-81-70.aspx

A D.J. Funderburk lay-up got the Pack within three, 61-58, with 5:35 to play, but NC State only hit one field goal over the next three minutes as Clemson went on a 10-2 run to clinch the game.”according to https://gopack.com/news/2020/1/4/mens-basketball-pack-falls-to-clemson-81-70.aspx

NC State went over seven minutes of game time (12:47 to 5:35) without a field goal in the second half which kept the Pack from being able to get over the hump.”according to https://gopack.com/news/2020/1/4/mens-basketball-pack-falls-to-clemson-81-70.aspx

Funderburk led the Pack in scoring for the second consecutive game, finishing with 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting. Devon Daniels (11), Markell Johnson (11) and Pat Andree (10) also reached double figures scoring for NC State.”according tohttps://gopack.com/news/2020/1/4/mens-basketball-pack-falls-to-clemson-81-70.aspx

Manny Bates led the Pack with seven rebounds and two blocks while Johnson had a game-high seven assists.”according to https://gopack.com/news/2020/1/4/mens-basketball-pack-falls-to-clemson-81-70.aspx

While NC State lost the first meeting of the season Clemson meanwhile won the first meeting of the season.

– In a high-flying contest at Littlejohn Coliseum, the Clemson University men’s basketball team pulled out an 81-70 victory over the NC State Wolfpack on Saturday. Five different Tigers scored in double figures for the first time on the season, and Aamir Simms led the charge for Clemson with 17 points. “according to https://clemsontigers.com/five-tigers-reach-double-figures-as-clemson-topples-nc-state/

Clemson (7-7, 1-3 ACC) never trailed on the afternoon, using an efficient 46.9 shooting percentage to keep NC State (10-4, 1-2 ACC) at bay throughout. The Tigers sank nine 3-pointers and was a stellar 83.9 percent from the free throw line, making a season-high 26 free throws. Clemson also won the rebounding margin 34-30 and scored 16 points off turnovers. The Wolfpack, meanwhile, shot 44.1 percent from the floor and tallied 36 points in the paint. Productive passing was a theme of Clemson’s winning performance, as 18 of the Tigers’ 23 field goals were assisted.”according to https://clemsontigers.com/five-tigers-reach-double-figures-as-clemson-topples-nc-state/

Eight of Simms’ points came at the charity stripe, with the big man going 8-of-9 on free throws. Al-Amir Dawes also excelled at the free throw line, knocking down 9-of-10 free throws as part of a 16-point showing. Tevin Mack added 14 points to go along with his seven rebounds, and Curran Scott, who connected on three treys, also tallied 14 points. Additionally, Scott matched his career-high assists mark with four dimes. John Newman III provided Clemson with a spark via his 12 points. D.J. Funderburk led the Wolfpack with 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting.”according to https://clemsontigers.com/five-tigers-reach-double-figures-as-clemson-topples-nc-state/

In the first half, Clemson made eight 3-balls and led by as many as 14 points. After the Tigers led 16-14, Clemson manufactured a 16-4 run that resulted in the Tigers leading 32-18 at the 5:24 mark. Both teams shot the ball well from the floor in the hotly contested firshttps://clemsontigers.com/five-tigers-reach-double-figures-as-clemson-topples-nc-state/t half, and the Wolfpack closed out the half on a 7-0 run to pull within six points of Clemson.”according to

After sporting a 41-35 advantage at the intermission, the Tigers went back and forth with the Wolfpack throughout most of the second half. Clemson consistently attacked the basket during the course of the final 20 minutes of play and did not relent on defense. A late 7-0 run that spanned exactly two minutes of play culminated in the Tigers going up 68-58 at the 3:35 mark. Scott knocked down a clutch corner 3-pointer in the midst of that run, and Mack later iced the game with an athletic up-and-under layup made possible by an assist from Simms. The Tigers knocked down 12-of-their-last-13 free throws to secure the 81-70 victory.”according to https://clemsontigers.com/five-tigers-reach-double-figures-as-clemson-topples-nc-state/

NC State and Clemson will meet again for the rematch in North Carolina’s state capital on Saturday January 18th where they will be looking for a different result but now NC State will turn their attention to preparing for their next opponent as they will take on Notre Dame on Wednesday night in Raleigh.