NC State Hands Clemson Its First ACC Loss in Overtime Thriller
Clemson men’s basketball had been rolling-nine straight wins, an unblemished ACC record, and a perfect home slate. But Tuesday night at Littlejohn Coliseum, the Tigers hit a speed bump. A gritty NC State squad walked into a sold-out arena and walked out with an 80-76 overtime win, snapping Clemson’s win streak and shaking up the top of the ACC standings.
This one had all the makings of a classic conference battle-momentum swings, late-game drama, and a handful of clutch performances. But when it mattered most, NC State made the plays, and Clemson couldn’t quite keep up.
Williams Delivers in the Clutch
The turning point came in overtime. With Clemson clinging to a 72-71 lead, NC State forward Darrion Williams stepped up and buried a go-ahead three. Then, on the very next possession, he dished a slick assist to Ven-Allen Lubin for a two-handed dunk that pushed the Wolfpack lead to four with just over a minute to play.
From there, Clemson had chances but couldn’t capitalize. The Tigers went 1-for-2 on free throws on back-to-back possessions and never got the deficit back to a single possession. The final 90 seconds ticked away without a serious threat from the home team.
Williams finished with 17 points, six rebounds, three assists, and zero turnovers-a clean, efficient performance that anchored NC State on both ends of the floor.
Clemson’s Streaks Snapped
The loss dropped Clemson to 16-4 overall and 6-1 in ACC play, knocking them out of a tie with No. 5 Duke for first place in the conference. It also ended a 10-game home win streak and marked their first loss since mid-December.
It’s a Quad 2 loss for the Tigers-a setback, but not a devastating one in terms of NCAA Tournament positioning. Clemson came into the night projected as a No. 5 seed, and while this result might nudge them slightly, the résumé remains strong.
For NC State, the win was a big one. The Wolfpack improved to 13-6 and 4-2 in the ACC, and more importantly, picked up their first Quad 1 win of the season-a major boost for their own postseason hopes.
A Sluggish Start and Missed Opportunities
Clemson came into the night undefeated at home, but the energy wasn’t quite there early. After a quick start offensively, the Tigers fell into a funk-missed shots, live-ball turnovers, and a lack of rhythm allowed NC State to build an 11-point lead in the first half.
The Tigers closed the gap before halftime, trailing just 38-33 at the break, but head coach Brad Brownell admitted postgame that something felt off from the jump.
“Hard-fought game,” Brownell said. “I didn’t think we played up to the standards that we need to play to win. NC State’s playing well, and tonight they just beat us.”
Brownell even noted that he sensed a lack of urgency during the team’s morning shootaround. And it showed-especially in the first 20 minutes.
Second Half Battle, But NC State Closes Strong
The second half was a back-and-forth affair. NC State never led by more than seven, but they also never let Clemson take control. Every time the Tigers made a push, the Wolfpack had an answer.
Late in regulation, Clemson finally grabbed the lead-its first since the middle of the first half-on a PJ Hall bucket with 1:12 left, making it 69-67. But Williams quickly tied it with two free throws, and neither team could convert in the final minute.
Clemson guard Dillon Hunter missed a good look late, and then came up short on a deep, running three at the buzzer to send it to OT.
In the extra period, NC State simply executed better. Clemson shot just 1-for-6 from the field (not counting a desperation heave at the buzzer), missed all three of its three-point attempts, and went 3-for-6 from the line. That’s not going to cut it in a tight game.
Meanwhile, the Wolfpack were nearly flawless from the stripe, finishing 22-for-25 (88%) on free throws. Clemson, by contrast, hit just 15 of 24 (62.5%).
Turnovers were another killer. Clemson gave it away 13 times-just one short of its season high-and NC State turned those mistakes into 19 points.
The Tigers managed just six points off turnovers in return. In a four-point game, those margins matter.
A Familiar Face on the Opposing Bench
There was a bit of irony in the loss, too. NC State head coach Will Wade, a Clemson alum and former Tigers student manager, picked up a second straight win over his alma mater. His No. 12-seeded McNeese State squad upset Clemson in the first round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament, and now he’s done it again-this time with an ACC rival.
Wade, who grabbed lunch at his old haunt Mac’s Drive-In before the game, called it a “hard-fought win” and hoped the victory gives his team “some pop” moving forward.
Godfrey: Time to Reset
Despite the loss, Clemson forward RJ Godfrey-who led the Tigers with 16 points-believes this could be the wake-up call the team needs.
“We’ve gotta be the ones to set the tone,” Godfrey said.
And he’s right. Clemson has the talent, the depth, and the experience to make a run in March.
But Tuesday night was a reminder: in the ACC, no game is a given. You’ve got to bring it every night.
The Tigers will have a chance to bounce back soon, with four more conference games on deck. How they respond will say a lot about where this team is headed.