Clemson Holds Off North Carolina in Nail-Biter

Tigers defeat No. 19 Tar Heels 80-79 in close ACC matchup

Mar. 13, 2026 at 5:06am

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In a thrilling ACC basketball matchup, Clemson narrowly defeated 19th-ranked North Carolina 80-79 after the Tar Heels mounted a furious second-half comeback. Nick Davidson led the Tigers with 17 points in the victory.

Why it matters

This win is a big boost for Clemson's postseason hopes as they look to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament. North Carolina's loss is a setback in their quest to improve their seeding for the big dance.

The details

Clemson built a comfortable lead in the first half, but North Carolina stormed back in the second half to nearly pull off the comeback victory. The game came down to the final seconds, with Clemson holding on for the narrow 80-79 win.

  • The game was played on March 13, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The players

Nick Davidson

A Clemson player who scored a team-high 17 points in the victory.

Clemson

The Clemson Tigers men's basketball team, who defeated the 19th-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels.

North Carolina

The 19th-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team, who lost a close game to Clemson.

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The takeaway

This was a thrilling ACC matchup that came down to the wire, with Clemson narrowly holding off a furious North Carolina comeback to secure a key victory that boosts their NCAA Tournament hopes.