Clemson basketball drops home ACC game to NC State

Chapel Fowler, The State on Jan 20, 2026

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CLEMSON, S.C. — Clemson men’s basketball has been riding high for over a month.

On Tuesday, the Tigers came back to down to earth.

Clemson dropped its first ACC game of the season 80-76 in overtime to NC State at Littlejohn Coliseum, which snapped a nine-game winning streak dating back to Dec. 13 as well as a 10-game home winning streak.

Senior forward RJ Godfrey put the Tigers up 69-67 with 1:12 left with a tough layup but couldn’t convert his and-one free throw attempt for a three-point lead.

NC State’s Darrion Williams responded with two free throws to tie the game once again at 69-69 with one minute left.

But neither team could get a game-winner to fall, with Clemson guard Dillon Hunter and Williams both missing good looks in the final minute. Hunter also missed a deep, running 3-pointer at the buzzer, which sent the game to overtime.

In overtime, Williams made a 3-pointer with NC State trailing 72-71 then had a slick pass for a dunk on the next possession to put the Wolfpack up 76-72. Clemson couldn’t come back from that two-possession deficit.

The game ended on a fizzle, with guard Butta Johnson turning it over instead of even getting a shot off with Clemson down 78-74 in the final 20 seconds.

Game recap

Clemson entered Tuesday’s game sporting a 10-0 home record, but the Tigers got off to a rough start in front of a strong crowd at Littlejohn Coliseum.

An early hot shooting streak devolved into a sloppy run of missed shots and live-ball turnovers and put Clemson in an 11-point hole midway through the period.

Clemson turned the ball over eight times, and NC State scored nine points off turnovers while hitting 6 of 14 3-pointers to take a 36-25 lead with 2:45 left in the first half. The Tigers closed on a mini-run and trailed 38-33 at halftime.

NC State led by at least two points and one possession (but no more than seven points and three possessions) during a back-and-forth start to the second half.

Clemson whiffed on multiple chances to tie or take the lead before Godfrey’s late basket with 1:12 gave the Tigers their first lead since the mid-first half.

But Williams’ free throws sent the game to an extra period, and his clutch plays in overtime dealt Clemson its first league loss.

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