The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
N.C. State uses big second half to top Clemson
Two late free throws complete Wolfpack’s 18-point comeback.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — For the second time, North Carolina State waited until the last possible moment to beat Clemson.
Markell Johnson hit two free throws with 2.6 seconds left, and the Wolfpack came from 18 down in the first half to beat the Tigers 59-58 in Wednesday’s second round of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament.
The eighth-seeded Wolfpack (22-10), down 16 at the break, ended up with the second-biggest comeback from a halftime deficit in tournament history.
“We talked about halftime: it wasn’t about X’s and O’s,” Wolfpack coach Kevin Keatts said. “It was about how much heart and desire and effort you would put into it. And I told them, I said: ‘If you played extremely hard, we’ll come out with a win.’ And these guys were special.”
The Tigers had a final chance after Johnson’s free throws, but Marcquise Reed’s heave from a few steps inside of halfcourt wasn’t close to end it.
At least the Tigers had a chance this time. The Wolfpack beat the Tigers on Braxton Beverly’s 3-pointer at the horn a little more than six weeks ago, then survived to win another tight one Wednesday that both teams needed to help their NCAA Tournament hopes as bubble teams.
Johnson’s big offensive day was the only thing working for the Wolfpack. No other players scored in double figures, while Johnson’s two huge 3s that pushed N.C. State to a 57-53 lead with 4:20 left ended up being the Wolfpack’s last baskets.
Reed had 16 points, 10 rebounds and six assists for the ninth-seeded Tigers (19-13), who dominated the first half only to fall apart in the second. Clemson made just 6 of 31 shots (19 percent) after halftime, including a run of more than 11 minutes without a basket and nearly seven minutes without a point.
“We obviously didn’t execute things in the second half very well,” Clemson coach Brad Brownell said. “Too much at stake for things to end like that.”
■ No. 16 Virginia Tech 71, Miami 56: Kerry Blackshear had 19 points and 10 rebounds to help No. 16 Virginia Tech beat Miami.
Ty Outlaw added 14 points — all in the first half — for the fifth-seeded Hokies (247), who never trailed after scoring the game’s first 11 points. The Hokies ran out to a 20-point lead before halftime, then turned away Miami’s last serious push early in the second half with a 20-5 run that increased the margin past 20 again.
The Hokies beat the 12th-seeded Hurricanes for a third time this season.
Chris Lykes scored 19 points for Miami (14-18), which beat Wake Forest in Tuesday’s first round.