CLEMSON, S.C. — In an impressive display, Viktor Lakhin delivered 22 points—matching his season high with four 3-pointers—as No. 23 ranked Clemson triumphed over North Carolina with a decisive score of 85-65 on Monday night.
Chase Hunter also contributed significantly to the Tigers’ victory, scoring 19 points, including four shots from beyond the arc. With this win, Clemson improved its record to 20-5 overall and 12-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, demonstrating their ability to bounce back after a prior victory against then-No. 2 Duke during the previous weekend.
This achievement marks the first occasion since the 2019-20 season that Clemson has managed to secure victories against both Duke and North Carolina within the same season.
Unlike the closely contested game against Duke, Clemson established a strong lead early in this matchup. Lakhin dominated the first half, with the majority of his scoring coming before halftime. Standing at 6-foot-11 and previously transferred from Cincinnati, he also played a pivotal role defensively, delivering five of Clemson’s eight blocked shots. By halftime, Clemson held a 49-33 advantage, and North Carolina was unable to stage a comeback in the second half.
R.J. Davis was the standout for the Tar Heels, leading his team with 18 points.
Observations from the game indicate that North Carolina aimed to gain momentum in their pursuit of an NCAA tournament bid; however, they encountered difficulties, particularly with their shooting accuracy from three-point range and the free-throw line.
For Clemson, this win represents a strong performance, as they have suffered only one defeat in their last nine games, which occurred in a double-overtime thriller against Georgia Tech. This current form suggests that the Tigers are a serious contender for their second ACC regular-season title.
A pivotal moment in the game unfolded when Davis’s three-pointer temporarily put North Carolina ahead 23-21 midway through the first half. Lakhin’s immediate response with a three-point shot ignited a formidable 28-10 run for Clemson to conclude the half.
An important statistic to note is that with this latest victory, Clemson has reached the 20-win milestone for the third consecutive season, marking the seventh time that coach Brad Brownell has achieved this feat in his 15 seasons at the helm.
Looking ahead, North Carolina is scheduled to face Syracuse on Saturday night, while Clemson will travel to play against Florida State the same day.