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Clemson Tigers Cruise to Victory Over North Carolina

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jeremy Lockett | Last updated Feb 10, 2025 9:08 PM ET

Clemson cruised to an 85-65 victory over North Carolina on Wednesday night, improving to 12-2 in the ACC and 20-5 overall. The Tigers outscored the Tar Heels by 16 in the second half, pulling away to secure their sixth consecutive win.

Viktor Lakhin led the charge for Clemson, finishing with 22 points on 9-of-16 shooting, including 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. Lakhin was one of five Tigers in double figures, with Jaedon Zackery contributing 16 points and 7 assists. Clemson shot 50% from the field and 48% from three-point range, dominating offensively while stifling UNC's efforts.

Clemson’s defense was equally impressive, holding North Carolina to just 45.2% shooting and limiting their three-point shooting to 21.1%. Clemson also capitalized on the Tar Heels' mistakes, outscoring them 22-15 in points off turnovers.

North Carolina was led by RJ Davis, who finished with 18 points on 8-of-14 shooting. However, the Tar Heels struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 4-of-19 attempts, and couldn't keep up with Clemson's pace.

The Tigers took control early in the first half, leading by as many as 18 points before heading into the break with a 49-33 advantage. North Carolina made a brief push in the second half, but Clemson's offense continued to fire on all cylinders, pushing their lead to as large as 26 points late in the game.

Clemson will look to continue its hot streak when they travel to Florida State on Saturday for a 12 p.m. tip-off.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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