CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — The University of North Carolina notched another significant road victory on Saturday, improving their ACC record to 3-0 for the first time in eight years. In a Top 25 showdown, the eighth-ranked Tar Heels battled past the 16th-ranked Clemson Tigers, emerging with a 65-55 win at Littlejohn Coliseum.
Armando Bacot led the way for North Carolina with 14 points and 16 rebounds, as he fiercely competed against Clemson’s standout player PJ Hall. RJ Davis and Cormac Ryan also contributed with 14 and 10 points respectively, helping the Tar Heels secure their first 3-0 start in ACC play since the 2015-16 season.
Despite shooting just 35.7% from the field in the second half and 41.7% for the game, North Carolina prevailed in a tough environment. Bacot made a crucial three-point play and set up a reverse layup by Davis during the final 5½ minutes, pushing Carolina’s lead to 60-55. Clemson went scoreless in the remaining minutes, allowing the Tar Heels to close out the game.
This win marks North Carolina’s first victory over a ranked Clemson team since 2008. Chase Hunter and Ian Schieffelin led the Tigers in scoring with 17 and 16 points respectively. Clemson couldn’t rely on their top scorer, Hall, or sharpshooter Joseph Girard III to carry them to victory against the Tar Heels.
In other news, Cormac Ryan suffered a minor injury towards the end of the first half. He scored 10 points and dished out three assists before going down with a right ankle injury. Ryan had sprained the same ankle earlier in the season, causing him to miss a game.
Looking ahead, North Carolina wraps up its three-game ACC road stretch with a matchup against in-state rival NC State on Wednesday night. The Tar Heels will aim to continue their perfect conference record and extend their dominance over the Wolfpack. UNC has won 29 out of their last 35 meetings against NC State.
Overall, North Carolina’s victory over Clemson exemplified their resilience on the road, highlighting their defensive tenacity and ability to execute timely shots. The Tar Heels continue to make a strong statement in the ACC this season.