Tar Heels hang on for win over Tigers

Graduate transfer Cameron Johnson scored a season-high 21 points to help No. 15 North Carolina hold off No. 20 Clemson 87-79 on Tuesday night, preserving its perfect all-time home record against the Tigers.

Joel Berry II scored 14 of his 17 after halftime for the Tar Heels (15-4, 4-2 Atlantic Coast Conference), who hung on despite seeing most of an 18-point lead erased by Clemson’s torrid second-half shooting.

The win improved the Tar Heels to 59-0 alltime at home against the Tigers. It’s the longest home winning streak against a single opponent in NCAA history.

Marcquise Reed scored 21 points for the Tigers (15-3, 4-2).

Chris Silva tied his career high with 27 points and host South Carolina (12-6, 3-3 Southeastern Conference) rallied from 14 points down in the second half to upset Kentucky (14-4, 4-2). Kevin Knox led Kentucky with 21 points, but no other Wildcat had more than 10 points.

Vincent Edwards scored 21 points and Carsen Edwards 20, leading the host Boilermakers (18-2, 7-0 Big Ten), who have won 14 straight overall and 19 in a row at home. Ethan Happ had 15 points, seven assists and six rebounds to lead the Badgers (9-10, 2-4).

Gary Clark scored 17 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to help the visiting Bearcats, (16-2, 5-0 American Athletic Conference), who won their ninth straight game. UCF (12-6, 3-3) got seven points apiece from Tacko Fall, Terrell Allen and Dayon Griffin, but struggled the entire game to get inside the Bearcats defense. UCF shot just 30 percent for the game and committed 14 turnovers. Tre’Shaun Fletcher had 18 points and Nate Navigato and Jaelan Sanford 16 apiece for the visiting Rockets (12-6, 4-1 Mid-American Conference), who extended their winning streak to a seasonbest four games. Doug Taylor led Ohio (8-9, 1-4) with 15 points.

Elijah Minnie had 22 points for host Eastern Michigan (11-7, 2-3 MAC). Eric Parrish had 18 points for Akron (8-9, 1-4), which has lost four of its last five games.

Demajeo Wiggins had 22 points and 15 rebounds, and Bowling Green (12-6, 3-2 MAC) pulled away early in the second half to beat host Miami University (9-9, 2-3).

Women

Maddie Simon scored 19 points and Hannah Whitish 18, and host Nebraska (13-6, 4-2 Big Ten) snapped a five-game losing streak in the series dating to the 2014-15 season with an upset of Iowa (15-4, 3-3).

Kaila Charles scored 14 of her 16 points in the second half, and Kristen Confroy had 15 points for the host Terrapins (16-3, 5-1 Big Ten). Charles made a shot off the glass to give Maryland a 73-70 lead with 41 seconds left. Amanda Cahill and Jaelynn Penn scored 18 points each for Indiana (8-12, 1-6).