North Carolina State’s NCAA Tournament hopes looked grim after an 18-point second-half deficit against Clemson in the ACC Tournament 8-9 game.
However, NC State fought its way back. Still trailing by 14 with just over 15 minutes to go, Markell Johnson scored NC State’s final 8 points in the last 5:38, including two pressure-packed free throws with his team down by one point with 2.6 seconds left. He finished with a game-high 23.
NC State shot 41.1% for the game but 48% in the second half and 5 of 11 from 3 in the second half after going 1 of 10 in the first half. Clemson shot 35.5% for the game after making just 6 of 31 shots (19.4%) in the second half.
NC State will face No. 1 seed Virginia in the first quarterfinal matchup on Thursday at 12 p.m.
Editorial credit: Al Sermeno Photography / Shutterstock.com