Tar Heels' Late Rally Falls Short in ACC Tournament Loss to Clemson

North Carolina's comeback bid comes up just short in 80-79 defeat against the Tigers

Mar. 13, 2026 at 4:05am

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The North Carolina Tar Heels' late-game rally fell short on Thursday night as they lost to the Clemson Tigers 80-79 in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals. After trailing by as many as 18 points in the second half, the Tar Heels cut the deficit to just one point in the final seconds, but were unable to complete the comeback.

Why it matters

This loss drops North Carolina to 25-7 on the season and marks their second straight defeat heading into the NCAA Tournament. The Tar Heels were looking to build momentum heading into the Big Dance, but this early exit from the ACC Tournament raises questions about their form and ability to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.

The details

Clemson's offense was firing on all cylinders, shooting 49.1% from the field and 47.4% from three-point range. Dylan Hunter led the Tigers with 14 points, while North Carolina's Henri Veesaar turned in a monster performance with 28 points and 17 rebounds. The Tar Heels made a furious 25-13 run late in the second half to cut the deficit to just six points, but ultimately came up short.

  • The game was played on Thursday, March 13, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
  • North Carolina had previously lost to Clemson nine days ago in Chapel Hill.

The players

Henri Veesaar

The North Carolina forward turned in a season and career-high performance with 28 points and 17 rebounds.

Dylan Hunter

The Clemson player led the Tigers' offensive effort with 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting and a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

What’s next

The Tar Heels will now wait until 6 p.m. on Sunday to find out their seeding and opponent for the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

This loss is a setback for North Carolina as they head into the NCAA Tournament, raising questions about their form and ability to make a deep run. However, the Tar Heels have shown they can mount comebacks, and with Henri Veesaar's standout performance, they have reason to be optimistic about their chances in the Big Dance.