Heel Tough Blog: Clemson Recap

@UNC_Basketball

Inside a jam-packed Smith Center, the Tar Heels set a new school record for most home wins in a single season, completing a perfect 18-0 campaign at home, after taking down Clemson 67-63 on Senior Night, to improve to 24-6, and 12-5 in the ACC. The Tar Heels were able to overcome a night where they only shot 38% from the field by going 12-27 from behind the arc, led by Luka Bogavac, who had his best game of the season. Bogavac, who has struggled all season long with consistency, scored 20 points last night, going 6-10 from behind the arc, before making two clutch free throws late, as UNC closed out a tough Clemson team. Bogavac became the first Tar Heel since RJ Davis to make six threes in a game, as Davis did so against San Diego State last year in the First Four. It was only fitting that Davis was in the building last night, as he was officially honored at halftime for his jersey going up in the rafters. Bogavac was one of two UNC players to score in double figures, as Henri Veesaar added 13 points, on 6-9 shooting, before fouling out.

Clemson actually led at the half, 30-27, and they controlled the pace of the game, taking the air out of the ball, making it a half-court game, and using their physicality to their advantage. RJ Godfrey, Clemson’s leading scorer, scored 22 points on 10-13 shooting, but didn’t score down the stretch in the game's decisive minutes. The Tigers were able to control the painted area, outscoring UNC 34-18, but their inability to score from the outside proved costly, as UNC played drop coverage, and Clemson went just 7-20 from the outside. 

Two key runs vaulted Carolina to the win, both of them coming in the second half. The first one, a 12-0 run, turned a 37-32 deficit into a 44-37 lead, and it looked like Carolina was going to run away with the game. The second stretch was sparked by Luka Bogavac, who hit a trio of three-pointers, to turn a 55-52 deficit into a 61-55 lead, a lead that UNC would never relinquish. Those two runs were a combined 21-0, and it produced over half of Carolina’s second-half point total, as they outscored the Tigers 40-33 over the final 20 minutes. 

The win last night improved Carolina to 3-2 on Senior Night under Hubert Davis, after losing last year to Duke in the final home game of the year. More importantly, it secured an undefeated home record for the 2025-26 season, and inched UNC one step closer to securing a double-bye for the ACC Tournament, as Carolina is 5-1 without Caleb Wilson. Here’s what to take away from the final home win of the season: 

1. Luka Steps Up: After the win over Virginia Tech on Saturday, this writer was making the case for Jonathan Powell to start over Luka Bogavac, after he struggled from the field once again. Luka did come off the bench, but that was because of Elijah Davis getting to start in his final home of his Carolina career. On a night where Carolina’s offense was sluggish, Luka was the engine that helped carry the Tar Heels to victory, scoring 20 points on 6-10 shooting from behind the arc, combined with two key free throws in the final minute of the game. Luka has struggled all year long to be the consistent wing that he brought in to be, but when his team needed him the most, he answered the call, with Hubert Davis calling set plays for him down the stretch. He even let some emotions come out for the first time all season long, showing you the importance of getting this specific win. 

2. Free Throws: It became apparent that this game was going to be determined at the foul line, and Carolina made just enough of their freebies to avoid a home loss. The Heels were 11-15 from the final line, as Seth Triible clinched the game at the foul line, after Clemson played for two, down 66-63, instead of looking to tie the game. Trimble, Biogavac, and Stevenson all made big free throws down the stretch, while Clemson had a pivotal 1–3 sequence after UNC committed a lane violation. After back-to-back rough games against Syracuse and Louisville, Carolina’s latest wins over VT and Clemson have happened in large part because of their ability to make clutch free throws. 

3. Derek Dixon: Carolina needs more from Derek Dixon, and hopefully last night was a turning point for the freshman guard. Dixon scored 9 points in 31 minutes, going 3-7 from the field, but 3-4 from behind the arc, including a big three-pointer in the closing minutes, after Hubert Davis called a timeout and drew up a play for Dixon. A game after Davis opted to close the game out with Kyan Evans, Dixon was on the floor in the biggest moments of the game, and, like he did against Kentucky, Duke, and others, proved ready for the moment. How far Carolina plays in the NCAA Tournament will ultimately be determined not by the health of Caleb Wilson but by the kind of production they get from Dixon, Kyan Evans, and others. 

4. Jarin Stevenson Bounces Back: After arguably his worst game since the Caleb Wilson injury on Saturday, Jarin Stevenson helped Carolina in a big way last night, while Henri Veesaar struggled with foul trouble, and Zayden High struggled to finish inside. Stevenson recorded a near double-double, tallying 9 points and 10 rebounds, including a key offensive rebound in the final minute, that helped Carolina run more clock, while closing out the game from the foul line. The biggest blessing coming out of the Wilson injury is the confidence that Hubert Davis was able to gain in Stevenson and High, who have both been a key part of Carolina being 5-1 without their best player. 

5. Seth Trimble & Elijah Davis: On an emotional Senior Night in the Dean Dome, Trimble and Davis were able to experience one final home win, one that secured the first unbeaten season at home since 2016-17, and set a new program record, with 18 home wins this season. After the win, they both addressed the crowd, bringing back the long-time tradition from the Roy Williams era, as they both expressed their gratitude for the University, the program, and the fan base. Trimble’s speech won the crowd over for good as he finished with a final word, expressing the hope that the Smith Center remains the home for Carolina Basketball for the foreseeable future. 

Up Next: Carolina concludes the regular season on Saturday at Duke, as the greatest rivalry in sports will write its second chapter of the 2025-26 season. Tip is set for 6:30 on ESPN.