Streaking Clemson holds off threats from NC State

Chase Hunter, back in the starting lineup after limited playing time recently because of illness, scored 20 points and Clemson withstood several threats from North Carolina State for a 68-58 road victory Saturday afternoon in Raleigh, N.C.

Viktor Lakhin had 13 points and Chauncey Wiggins ended up with 11 points for the Tigers (18-4, 10-1 Atlantic Coast Conference), who are a half-game out of first place pending the outcome of Saturday night's North Carolina-Duke game.

Clemson poured it on with a strong finishing stretch to secure its sixth consecutive victory. The Tigers, who shot 48.1 percent from the field, overcame a scoring drought of more than seven minutes during the first part of the second half.

Dontrez Styles hit six of eight 3-point shots on the way to 24 points for NC State (9-12, 2-8), which lost its sixth game in a row.

Lakhin pulled in 11 rebounds, but NC State held a 38-28 advantage on the boards. Clemson committed only five turnovers.

Styles shot 9-for-14 from the field. Other than Styles, the Wolfpack were 3-for-14 on 3-point attempts.

Styles made two 3-pointers to keep the Wolfpack in it at 55-49 by the five-minute mark.

Then Dillon Hunter scored on a drive and Wiggins followed with a pair of free throws. When Chase Hunter connected for two baskets in a 41-second span, Clemson had soared to a 66-53 lead with 2:28 to play.

Chase Hunter reached the 20-point mark for the seventh time this season.

NC State attempted six free throws in the game. The Wolfpack shot 14-for-38 on 2-point attempts against an aggressive Clemson defense.

NC State led with less than 14 minutes to play until Ian Schieffelin's tip-in halted Clemson's rough stretch. Chase Hunter notched six points in a two-minute stretch as the Tigers surged to a 48-41 lead.

Clemson, which hadn't played in a week, led 34-31 at halftime. The Tigers avenged a one-point home loss from last season.

--Field Level Media