Clemson stuns UNC in OT for its first win in Chapel Hill
Aamir Simms hit an overtime-forcing three-pointer with 3.5 seconds left in regulation and Clemson went on to erase decades of futility at North Carolina by beating the Tar Heels 79-76 on Saturday, earning their first win in 60 tries in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Simms finished with 20 points for the Tigers (8-7, 2-3 Atlantic Coast Conference), who trailed by 10 with a little more than two minutes left in regulation. But Clemson made a frantic comeback to force the extra period, then came up with enough key baskets to do what no other predecessor had done in school history: walk off the court in Chapel Hill in celebration of a win.
Simms added a critical driving basket with 18.1 seconds left in OT, then the Tigers got a final stop when Garrison Brooks and then Brandon Robinson both missed tying threepointers on the final possession.
When Robinson’s missed at the horn, Clemson players ran to midcourt to celebrate, while John Newman III ran to wrap coach Brad Brownell in a huge hug on the sideline.
Meanwhile, Robinson laid on the court after his miss, capping a day that saw him go for a careerhigh 27 points but come up a shot short.
UNC (8-8, 1-4) came into this one 59-0 against Clemson all-time in Chapel Hill for the longest home winning streak against one opponent in NCAA history. That included 28-0 in the Smith Center, UNC’s campus arena that opened in January 1986.
The win leaves coach Roy Williams tied with late mentor Dean Smith for fourth on the Division I men’s career coaching wins list with 879 victories since the Tar Heels beat Yale on Dec. 30.
MEN’S TOP 25
A No. 1 Gonzaga 87, Loyola Marymount 62: Filip Petrusev scored 16 points, Corey Kispert added 15 and the top-ranked Bulldogs (18-1, 4-0 West Coast Conference ) rolled past the host Lions (7-10, 1-2).
A No. 4 Baylor 67, No. 3 Kansas 55: Jared Butler scored 22 points, MaCio Teague added 16 and the Bears (13-1, 3-0 Big 12) upset the host Jayhawks (12-3, 2-1) for the Bears’ first win in 18 tries on the hallowed hardwood of Allen Fieldhouse.
A No. 5 Auburn 82, Georgia 60: Samir Doughty had 17 points and the host Tigers (15-0, 3-0 Southeastern Conference) remained unbeaten by shooting 53 percent and beating the Bulldogs (10-5, 0-2).
Indiana 66, No. 11
Ohio State 54: Devonte Green scored 19 points and Rob Phinisee added 13 in his first start of the season to help the host Hoosiers (13-3, 3-2 Big Ten) hand the Buckeyes (11-5, 1-4) their fourth straight loss.
A No. 13 Louisville 67, Notre Dame 64: Jordan Nwora led three Louisville players in double figures with 20 points as the visiting Cardinals (13-3, 4-1 ACC) withstood a furious comeback by the Fighting Irish (10-6, 1-4) in the second half.
A No. 14 Kentucky 76, Alabama 67: Immanuel Quickley scored the game’s final five points and finished with 19, Ashton Hagans had 15 with big 3 late and the host Wildcats (12-3, 3-0 SEC) topped the Crimson Tide (8-7, 1-2) for their 1,000th Southeastern Conference victory. Kentucky is 1,000-281 overall in SEC play.
A No. 15 Dayton 88, UMass 60: Obi Toppin scored 16 points before leaving with an ankle injury early in the second half as the host Flyers (14-2, 3-0 Atlantic 10) got a scare while pulling away from the Minutemen (7-9, 1-2).
A No. 16 Villanova 80, Georgetown 66: Saddiq Bey hit eight three-pointers and scored a career-high 33 points to lead the host Wildcats (12-3, 3-1 Big East) over the Hoyas (11-6, 1-3).
Syracuse 63, No. 18 Virginia 55 (OT): Buddy Boeheim scored nine of his 14 points in overtime and the Orange (9-7, 2-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) outlasted the host Cavaliers (11-4, 3-2). The Orange scored 20 points in the extra period after netting just 19 in the second half.
A Wisconsin 58, No. 20 Penn State 49: Micah Potter scored 18 of his 24 points in the first half and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead the Badgers (10-6, 3-2 Big Ten) over the host Nittany Lions (12-4, 2-3).
STATE SCHOOLS
Rice 92, FIU 78: Ako Adams had 19 points to lead five Rice players in double figures as the host Owls (9-8, 1-3 Conference USA) topped the Panthers.
Devon Andrews had 19 points and seven rebounds for the Panthers (11-6, 2-2 Conference USA).
Trejon Jacob added 19 points and seven rebounds. Osasumwen Osaghae had 18 points and eight rebounds.
A North Texas 81, FAU 58: Javion Hamlet had a season-high 20 points as the Mean Green (9-8, 3-1 Conference USA) easily defeated the visiting Owls. Michael Forrest had 11 points for the Owls (11-6, 3-1).
Cincinnati 68, Central Florida 54: Tre Scott recorded 14 points and 11 rebounds to lift the Bearcats (10-6, 3-1 American Athletic Conference) over the host Knights (9-7, 0-4). Collin Smith had 19 points and nine rebounds for the Knights, who have now lost five straight games.
WOMEN’S TOP 25
A No. 1 UConn 91, Houston 51: Megan Walker scored 22 points and Christyn Willimas had 21 as top-ranked Huskies (13-1, 4-0 American) responded to their first loss of the season with a 1 rout of the visiting Cougars (8-9, 1-2).