CLEMSON – A slugfest went down in Littlejohn Coliseum as the No. 16 Clemson and No. 8 North Carolina went back and forth until the Tar Heels sealed the game with their shooting, coming out with a 65-55 victory.

“Physical. Bodies were colliding al over the place but their guys made more plays so they won the game,” Head coach Brad Brownell said.

The Tigers failed to find momentum offensively, and were entirely reliant on their success down low. On top of that, the star power didn’t show up when necessary and here’s the 411 on what easily could’ve been a statement victory.

-Clemson gave up 13 points in the first 4:14 of the game, and it looked like the defensive struggles from Miami were lingering. The Tigers dug their feet in though and gave up just 21 over the next 15:46.

-Shooting is a strength of this Clemson team, but the Tigers went 0-8 from behind the arc in the first half. While the deep range was absent, the inside game was efficient and led to 14 free throws in the first half.

“We just couldn’t make a shot, that’s just how basketball is some times,” Ian Schieffelin said.

It took until 13:20 in the second half when forward Chauncey Wiggins made the Tigers’ first shot from behind the arc after 14 misses. That would go on to be the only make.

”You can’t go one for 18 and win the game from three…there’s no way to overcome that,” Brownell said.

-PJ Hall and Joseph Girard III are the two leaders of the offense, but it was a messy might for the pair. 15 points on a combined 5-23, yet this was a nail biter. Hall also fouled out for his second-straight game. If either had a solid night, we’d probably be talking about a different result. Chase Hunter stepped up though after a frustrating start to the year and led Clemson with 17 points on 8-14 shooting.

-Schieffelin continues to impress, and he ran the show in this one. He finished with 16 points, 11 rebounds with four blocks and steals apiece.. Taking on a strong rebounding team, he fit right in and helped limit North Carolina four second-chance points.

“We just try to out physically the other team and try to set the tone for the game,” Schieffelin said. “We just got to get better and go into the gym where it all started.”

Schieffelin proceeded to wreck shop to start the second half with two offensive rebounds that led to four points, including his own putback.

TURNING POINT

It was gridlock until the second half, and the Tar Heels’ three-point shooting amid the Tigers’ absence of such decided its fate. North Carolina went 5-11 from behind the arc in the second half and it slowly inched into a lead and win. Clemson couldn’t trade blows from three and it led to the loss.

TELLING STAT: 44

That’s how many of the Tigers 55 points came from in the paint and the free throw line. Oddly enough, Clemson made no free throws in the second half on just two attempts from PJ Hall.

It was a one-dimensional offensive outing, and it faded as the officiating didn’t favor the Tigers’ play style late. 1-17 from three-point range can’t win games, and yet this game was a one-possession battle until the final few minutes. Brownell’s squad must find offensive rhythm during ACC play.