North Carolina State University Athletics
Clemson Rallies Past NC State, 66-63
2/27/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Tony Haynes
Winning is contagious. But unfortunately, so is losing. No one understands that concept more than NC State, which dropped its seventh straight game before a stunned crowd of 15, 867 at the Entertainment and Sports Arena on Sunday. Andrius Jurkunas nailed 6-of-7 three-point shots and scored a season high 23-points as Clemson (10-17, 4-10 ACC) came from behind to edge the Wolfpack 66-63.
Jurkunas, who scored 17 of his 23 points in the second half, hit wide-open threes, off balance threes and some shots that would have registered three-points even in the NBA.
"He hit some incredible threes," said NC State coach Herb Sendek. "On one of those shots, it seemed like he was at halfcourt. Their team was 11-of-19 from three-point range. That's awful hard to overcome."
And Clemson saved its best for last.
The Tigers were on the ropes when Damien Wilkins hit back to back three-point baskets to give NC State (15-11, 5-10 ACC) a 59-49 lead with 7:09 left. But following a Clemson timeout, Jurkunas answered the bell with a long-range bomb from the right corner to bring his team back within seven.
Following an NC State turnover, Edward Scott got in on the act, nailing another three to make it a four point Wolfpack advantage with 4:59 showing on the clock.
After Adam Allenspach scored on a layup, Jurkunas connected on a 25-footer to push Clemson up 60-59. Forward Chucky Gilmore then completed a 13-nothing run with a rebound and stick back to push the Tigers out in front 62-59.
On the other end, Justin Gainey finally ended NC State's six-minute scoring drought by hitting a 15-foot jumper. Gainey, who was playing his final home game for NC State, was also fouled on the play by Scott. His successful free throw tied the score at 62-62 with 1:01 remaining.
30-seconds later, the Pack's Anthony Grundy came up with a steal and fed Kenny Inge, who was fouled by Jurkunas on his layup attempt. Inge made the first free throw but missed the second, giving the Wolfpack a 63-62 lead with 32.8 seconds left.
Clemson finally grabbed the lead for good when Jurkunas nailed both ends of a one and one after Wilkins fouled him with 14.6 seconds remaining.
During a Tigers timeout, Sendek decided to put the ball in Grundy's hands for a potential game-winning shot. Once he got into the frontcourt, Grundy drove past Jurkunas on the perimeter. But as he got to the basket, he lost the ball after being knocked to the floor.
And while NC State's players waited for a whistle that never came, Will Solomon hit a layup on the other end to give the Tigers a three-point win on the road.
"We were victimized by two great shooters in Jurkunas and Solomon tonight," Sendek said. "We were just unable to stop them in the second half."
Solomon, who came in as the ACC's leading scorer, scored eight of his 13-points in the second half. Scott added 10 for the Tigers.
Gainey led the Wolfpack with 17. Inge had 13 while Wilkins chipped in with 11.
Clemson made 43.9 percent of its shots for the game, but knocked down an even 50 percent in the second half. NC State converted on 38 percent of its shots for the game.
The Tigers used a tremendous size advantage inside to outrebound the Wolfpack 38-31.
Clemson opened the game with five straight points, but NC State recovered to grab a 32-26 lead at the break. Gainey scored 11-points after hitting 3-of-5 three-point attempts in the opening 20-minutes
