Second chances and first-round talent gives UNC its 56th straight home win versus Clemson

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Everything must come to an end except perhaps Clemson’s losing streak in Chapel Hill. North Carolina’s 74-52 win Saturday extended Clemson’s 0-for-forever streak at Chapel Hill to 0 for 56.

The NCAA record for futility in one road city began in 1926 and has covered the tenures of 13 different head coaches at Clemson. Clemson’s 56th straight opportunity squandered at North Carolina was lost like many before it: it was lost through second chances awarded, at the hands of future first-round NBA draft picks and in a hostile, history-rich environment.

The long, athletic Tar Heels out-rebounded Clemson, 39-26, as expected due to their towering size. But Clemson gave No. 8 North Carolina (23-4, 10-2 ACC) extra opportunities in the second half. The normally sure-handed Tigers turned the ball over 11 times in the second half, including four in a five-possession stretch after Clemson (13-13, 5-7) had cut the North Carolina lead to 47-41 with 11:59 to play.

It was Clemson’s worst loss under Brad Brownell. The previous worst was Clemson’s 16-point loss at Arizona.

“In a game versus North Carolina if you make mistakes you’re going to pay,” Clemson coach Brad Brownell said. “We turned the ball over on (four) out of (five) possessions and that’s the end of the game.”