Wednesday, March 1
Clemson, SC
8:00 p.m.
NC State
15-16, 4-14ACC
74
at
78
Clemson
15-14, 5-12ACC
1
2
F
NC State
38
36
74
Clemson
37
41
78
Clemson Slips Past the Pack, 78-74
3/1/2017 10:44:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Abdul-Malik Abu leads four NC State players in double figures with 18 points
CLEMSON, S.C. – Clemson's Jaron Blossomgame hit a go-ahead three-pointer with 1:27 to play to break a 72-72 tie as the Tigers went on to defeat NC State, 78-74, Wednesday evening inside Littlejohn Coliseum.
With the loss, NC State closes the regular season with a 15-16 overall record, 4-14 in the ACC.
Clemson led 72-67 with 3:00 to go, but Dennis Smith, Jr., scored five consecutive points to square the game at 72. The freshman point guard knocked down a baseline jumper to bring NC State within three and then knocked down a three-pointer with 1:54 remaining to tie the game.
NC State had a one-point lead at halftime and held the lead for the first 7:30 of the second half before Clemson took its first lead of the final 20 minutes, 51-50, with 12:30 to go. The Tigers went on a 16-7 run over 5:35 to take a 63-57 lead with 7:53 to go. NC State did not go away though, as the Pack responded with a 10-4 run, tying the game on a three-pointer by Terry Henderson with 5:22 to play.
The first half was a back-and-forth affair as the two teams exchanged the lead seven times and neither team had a lead larger than four points in the opening 20 minutes. The Pack ended the half on a 5-0 run, capped by a Ted Kapita jumper with less than two seconds left in the half to take a one point lead into the break.
Abdul-Malik Abu led the Pack with 18 points, while Henderson and Smith each added 13. Maverick Rowan chipped in 12.
Clemson outrebounded NC State, 36-32, and turned 12 offensive rebounds into 25 second chance points. The Tigers finished with a 25-3 advantage in second chance points.
NC State will be back in action Tuesday in the ACC Tournament. The Pack's seed, opponent and game time will be determined by the result of the Pittsburgh at Notre Dame on Saturday. If Pittsburgh loses to Notre Dame, NC State will be the 13th-seed and play 12th-seed Clemson Tuesday at noon. If Pittsburgh wins at Notre Dame, the Pack will be the 14th-see and will play at 7 p.m.
With the loss, NC State closes the regular season with a 15-16 overall record, 4-14 in the ACC.
Clemson led 72-67 with 3:00 to go, but Dennis Smith, Jr., scored five consecutive points to square the game at 72. The freshman point guard knocked down a baseline jumper to bring NC State within three and then knocked down a three-pointer with 1:54 remaining to tie the game.
NC State had a one-point lead at halftime and held the lead for the first 7:30 of the second half before Clemson took its first lead of the final 20 minutes, 51-50, with 12:30 to go. The Tigers went on a 16-7 run over 5:35 to take a 63-57 lead with 7:53 to go. NC State did not go away though, as the Pack responded with a 10-4 run, tying the game on a three-pointer by Terry Henderson with 5:22 to play.
The first half was a back-and-forth affair as the two teams exchanged the lead seven times and neither team had a lead larger than four points in the opening 20 minutes. The Pack ended the half on a 5-0 run, capped by a Ted Kapita jumper with less than two seconds left in the half to take a one point lead into the break.
Abdul-Malik Abu led the Pack with 18 points, while Henderson and Smith each added 13. Maverick Rowan chipped in 12.
Clemson outrebounded NC State, 36-32, and turned 12 offensive rebounds into 25 second chance points. The Tigers finished with a 25-3 advantage in second chance points.
NC State will be back in action Tuesday in the ACC Tournament. The Pack's seed, opponent and game time will be determined by the result of the Pittsburgh at Notre Dame on Saturday. If Pittsburgh loses to Notre Dame, NC State will be the 13th-seed and play 12th-seed Clemson Tuesday at noon. If Pittsburgh wins at Notre Dame, the Pack will be the 14th-see and will play at 7 p.m.
Team Stats
ST
CLEM
FG%
.492
.468
3FG%
.389
.412
FT%
.875
.722
RB
32
36
TO
8
7
STL
4
2
Game Leaders
Pts
18
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballG/F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballWill Wade Press Conference (Sept, 22, 2025)
Monday, September 22
Will Wade Summer Press Conference
Wednesday, July 09
Will Wade on ACC PM
Wednesday, May 14
Coach Will Wade Chats with Matt Chazanow and Jeff Gravley
Wednesday, March 26