It was a tale of two halves.
#9 seed Clemson couldn’t miss in the 1st half. They hit 51.6% from the field, and torched the net from deep, hitting 8 of 13 from beyond the arch.
NC State went into the locker room at halftime with a 16-point deficit hanging over their heads, trailing 42-26 (trailed by as much as 18).
Credit to the Wolfpack defense, the Tigers shot a horrid 19.4% from the field in the second half, and 10% from three.
Junior Point Guard Markell Johnson willed NC State to victory in the 2nd half. He finished the game with 23 points, with 13 of them coming in the 2nd half. Johnson was 4-9 from three for the game, with 3 of them in the 2nd half.
The final 3:44 of the game were dumfounding.
After taking the lead on a three-pointer by Johnson at the 5:38 mark, the Tigers stole it back on a layup by Elijah Thomas with 3:44 left.
Neither team would put a single point on the board again until Markell Johnson went to the free throw line with 2.6 seconds left on the clock.
Clemson, who only had 5 fouls, attempted to foul Johnson before he got the shot off, but was flagged for a definite foul on Johnson’s elbow while shooting.
With ice in his veins, Johnson sunk both free throws, giving the Pack a 1-point lead.
Clemson’s Marcquise Reed didn’t have the luck Braxton Beverly had back in January, missing a game-winning heave.
NC State’s comeback from 16 points at the half is the 2nd greatest comeback in ACC Tournament history.
Clemson fans can moan about the foul at the end of the game if they want. I can play that game too with Thomas’ obvious goaltending on CJ Bryce with 1:45 left, but I digress.
Maybe Tiger nation should moan about the fact their team managed to blow a 18-point lead.
NC State needed to win this game in order to have a chance of making the NCAA Tournament.
Check.
Now the Wolfpack will get a shot at #1 seed Virginia tomorrow at 12:30pm.