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UNC Basketball: Clemson’s historic streak in Chapel Hill is over

By Zack Pearson

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 30: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels watches on against the Yale Bulldogs during their game at Dean Smith Center on December 30, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 30: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels watches on against the Yale Bulldogs during their game at Dean Smith Center on December 30, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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The UNC Basketball program drops their third-straight game in conference play as Clemson’s historic streak in Chapel Hill comes to an end

Well, it finally happened.

The Clemson Tigers ended a 94-year, 59-game losing streak in Chapel Hill on Saturday afternoon and they did it in comeback fashion, stunning the Tar Heels 79-76 in overtime. Clemson didn’t have their first lead of the game until overtime and to get there they had to go on a big run.

UNC came out hot in this one, jumping out to an 8-point lead and holding it for 39 minutes of the game. The Tar Heels were led by senior Brandon Robinson, who scored 19 of his career-high 27 points in the first half. Robinson’s efforts plus the surprising play of Andrew Platek helped UNC get out to a 39-29 halftime leave.

In the second half, Robinson’s production ticked down a bit as he scored just 8 points but junior Garrison Brooks decided it was his turn to shine.

Brooks scored all of his 13 points in the second half, helping UNC build up their lead to 14 points at one point in the half. Everything looked good for UNC as they were moving the ball, scoring and controlling the clock.

But then the drought happened.

The Tar Heels didn’t make a single field goal in the final 5:02 of the game and committed three turnovers late to keep Clemson in it. The Tigers used a 12-2 run over the final two minutes of regulation and got two three-pointers from center Aamir Simms to send it into overtime. On the play, Roy Williams elected not to foul and Simms was open on a failed close out.

The forward drained the three as Clemson made eight of their final 10 field goal attempts.

The final two minutes stunned the Dean Dome as UNC threw the ball away twice on back-to-back possessions allowing Clemson to get back into it. UNC looked lost for the first time all game and with no primary ball handler on the floor, it hurt the Tar Heels.

In overtime, it was all Clemson.

The Tigers got all 9 of their points on free throws or back door plays in which three went for layups. Virtually everything was uncontested for the Tigers and they took advantage.

It’s sad times in Chapel Hill as head coach Roy Williams took the blame for the loss and not telling his players to foul on the three-point attempt:

“Had some great moments as a coach. Right now this is my lowest one. Losing this game is my fault. If I die tomorrow or 20 years from now, that’ll be my biggest regret as a coach. These kids really needed a win.”

The Tar Heels will have their ACC break at 8-8 overall and 1-4 in the conference. They return to action next Saturday afternoon when they play at Pitt.

Next. Analyst sees brighter days ahead for Tar Heels. dark

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