RALEIGH, N.C. – Clemson shot 58 percent from the field in the second half as the Tigers outlasted NC State, 70-65, Saturday afternoon inside PNC Arena.
The Tigers shot just 41.9 percent in the first half, but made 15-of-26 field goal attempts in the second half, including a period from 13:30 to 6:04 in the second half where Clemson made nine consecutive field goals.
Clemson outscored NC State, 44-20, in points in the paint. The Tigers’ PJ Hall finished with 20 points on 10-of-16 shooting and added four blocks. Al-Amir Dawes also reached double figures for Clemson, finishing with 16 points.
Dereon Seabron led the Pack with 27 points. It’s the seventh 20-point performance of the season for the Norfolk, Va., native. He added a team-high tying seven rebounds and finished with three assists and two steals.
Thomas Allen was the only other NC State player in double figures with 10 points.
The Pack finished the game shooting 31.7 percent from the field which is the second-lowest shooting percentage this season for NC State.
NC State was within two, 55-53, with 6:32 to play after an Allen lay-up but a 7-0 Clemson run over the next three minutes, punctuated by a Chase Hunter jumper with 3:31 to play put the Tigers up 62-53.
NC State did not get within one possession of the Tigers until a Casey Morsell three-pointer with two seconds brought the Pack within three, 68-65. Nick Honor made two free throws with 0.8 seconds remaining to clinch the victory for Clemson.
The Pack jumped out to a 9-0 lead less than three minutes into the game courtesy of three-pointers by Allen, Seabron and Jericole Hellems. NC State would only make two field goals over the next 13 minutes of the game though as Clemson responded to the early 9-0 deficit to take a 26-18 lead with 4:47 to play in the first half.
NC State closed the half on an 8-2 run to cut the deficit to 30-28 at the break. The Pack made six three-pointers in the first half, but just two two-point field goals.
With the loss, NC State falls to 8-8 (1-4 ACC) on the season while Clemson improves to 10-5 (2-2 ACC).
NC State returns to action Wednesday evening when it plays at Louisville. Tipoff against the Cardinals is scheduled for 9 p.m. and the game will be televised on the ACC Network.
