Wolfpack loses ACC road contest to Clemson, 63-51

1/10/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) -Trevor Booker scored 23 points and No. 12 Clemson improved to 16-0 with a 63-51 victory over NC State on Saturday.

The Tigers (2-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) moved a game away from matching the school's best start, first accomplished in 1986-87 and matched 20 years later.

Clemson used Booker's inside dominance and a smothering defense to pull away from the Wolfpack (9-4, 0-1).

North Carolina State wiped out a 10-point first-half lead and tied the game at 33-all on Trevor Ferguson's drive with 15:18 left. Then Booker led the Tigers on a 24-10 run.

Booker had 10 points during the run, including the last three baskets, to put Clemson up 57-43 with 5 minutes to go.

NC State never got the lead under double digits after that. Courtney Fells had 10 points to lead the Wolfpack, whose four losses have come to ranked opponents.