Last Second Loss Sends Tigers Reeling |
CLEMSON - Freshman Josh Powell's putback of an Anthony Grundy miss with :02.1
to play gave North Carolina State a stunning 80-79 victory over Clemson Tuesday night at Littlejohn Coliseum. Powell's heroics capped off a frenetic final two minutes for both teams, and ultimately saddled the Tigers (11-7, 2-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) with their first back-to-back losses of the season. The Wolfpack improves to 13-4 (3-2), and has won four of its first five road games for the first time since 1975-76. "I'm extremely disappointed," Clemson coach Larry Shyatt said. "The players, this one hurt them. This is one we thought we could get." It looked for a moment as if Clemson just might. After squandering a five-point lead with under 2:00 to go, Tigers' guard Tony Stockman appeared ready to wear the laurel of hero. With his team trailing 78-77, Stockman drove to the foul line from the left wing and put up an off-balance, one-handed runner against a double team that connected with :10.8 to go. Out of timeouts, State rushed the ball inbounds to senior Anthony Grundy, who drove to the right block, pump-faked Ray Henderson into the air and put up a shot off the glass that missed. But Powell was able to get free for the game-winning tip when Clemson's Jamar McKnight was forced to defend Grundy after the fake. Stockman's three-quarter court prayer at the buzzer drew glass, but nothing else. "I knew we didn't have any timeouts," Grundy said. "I was just trying to get (the ball) to the rim as quickly as possible, and things worked out for us." Though he didn't hit the game-winner, Grundy played a major role in State's victory. After starting the game on the bench for disciplinary measures, Grundy's insertion into the lineup provided the Wolfpack with a much-needed spark in the first half. But his two biggest plays of the game came inside the final 4:00. After three straight baskets in the paint gave Clemson a 71-69 lead with 4:10 left, Grundy (22 points) immediately answered with a 3-pointer that put State back on top by one. Then, after missing a 3 that would have tied the game at 75-75, the senior did himself one better. Working without the ball and his team trailing 77-75, Grundy made a backdoor cut on McKnight along the baseline and got free for a layup. He was fouled in the process, and hit the free throw for a 78-77 Wolfpack lead with :34.8 to play. "When the team needs me, or when we need a big play, I try to be somewhere or be in the right place with the ball," Grundy said. "It's something the team needs and I try to be that guy." "He was very determined and focused to show something when he came into the game," said State coach Herb Sendek. "That's the Anthony Grundy we need night in and night out." The dramatic last-second defeat overshadowed a fine second-half effort by the Tigers. Trailing by 11 at the break, Clemson fought its way back into contention by virtue of a balanced scoring attack. All five starters - Ed Scott (10), Stockman (18), McKnight (18), Henderson (11) and Chris Hobbs (16) - finished in double figures. The Tigers also took markedly better care of the basketball. After having just six assists and 13 turnovers at the break, Clemson finished with 19 and 17, respectively, eventually forcing the Wolfpack to abandon its fullcourt press. "We not only had to concentrate on coming back, but we had to do it with a degree of poise," Shyatt said. "I'm proud of that. I'm not proud of the result." Clemson trailed 44-33 at the break despite shooting 75 percent (12-16) from the field and hitting 7-of 8 free throw attempts. But the Tigers' 13 turnovers against the N.C. State press led to 20 Wolfpack points. After trailing early 15-7, State capitalized on the mistakes and an incredible succession of 3-point shots to take control of the game. Three consecutive treys capped off a 19-2 run that put the Wolfpack up 26-17. N.C. State hit two more 3s in a row before finally missing one, and ended the half 10-of-19 from behind the arc. Sherrill finished the half with 11 points (19 for the game), while Grundy came off the bench to score nine. BOX SCORE
No Carolina St (13-4) 44 36 80
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