THE CLEMSON Tigers recorded their 20th win of the NCAAM season on Tuesday afternoon when they defeated the North Carolina Tar Heels by 20 points at Littlejohn Coliseum.

The Tigers have been one of the strongest teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference, and had the chance to move just half a game behind the Duke Blue Devils, who lead the standings. On the other hand, the Tar Heels had been inconsistent coming into the clash, but have been a staple of college basketball in recent seasons, so it would have been remiss to count them out.

Clemson took control of the match early, with the Tigers ensuring they snatched a first half lead and put the Tar Heels on the back foot. A 28-10 run to close out the first half saw Clemson take control, and North Carolina did not fire a shot in the second half, eventually falling 65-85.

With that in mind, Rookie Me Central will be casting an eye over how the key players performed in the match, as some of the NCAAM’s best and brightest display their craft on a nightly basis.

North Carolina Tar Heels (65) def. by Clemson Tigers (85)

Tar Heels

#3 Elliot Cadeau

Although he was careless with ball in hand at times, you cannot fault Cadeau’s desire to try and create for the Tar Heels in trying circumstances. Despite North Carolina constantly being on the back foot and the intimidation of the huge deficit on the scoreboard, the point guard was always trying to find his teammates, and recorded a team-high six assists. Although his turnover count matched that tally, many of his passes came under duress thanks to some suffocating defence from the Tigers. He also poured in 11 points on 5/10 shooting.

#4 RJ Davis

North Carolina’s best player for the match, Davis was a constant presence on the offensive end even when his team struggled to get any cohesion on that side of things. He helped the Tar Heels get off to a reasonable start in the first half, knocking down a three-pointer to give his side a 23-21 lead. Although the Tigers fell behind for the remainder of the contest, Davis fought extremely hard to generate some offence, shooting 8/14 from the field and knocking down a pair of triples in a productive display from the guard.

Tigers

#0 Viktor Lakhin

The standout for the game, Lakhin was an immense figure for the Tigers, particularly in the first half where he helped Clemson gain ascendancy on the scoreboard. 20 of his 22 points came in the first half as he absolutely torched the Tar Heels with an explosive scoring performance. It was his second 20-point performance in a row, and included a season-high four three-pointers, showcasing his range as a six-foot-11 big man. His production on the offensive end was matched defensively, with the big man swatting five shots and making his presence truly known. The Senior is in ripping form of late and continued that trend with a seriously impactful showing.

#1 Chase Hunter

Another key presence for the victorious Tigers, Hunter found his rhythm scoring the ball and combined with Lakhin to produce a vital scoring punch. His 19 points was only bested by Lakhin, and he worked extremely hard to get free from his defender. Shooting 7/13 from the field, Hunter was also a true threat from behind the arc, and knocked down four of his eight attempts from three-point land. Whenever the defence looked to put all their effort into Lakhin, it was Hunter that got off the chain next, and played a very important role for Clemson.

#11 Jaeden Zackary

The Tigers point guard was electric in the win over the Tar Heels, setting up his teammates perfectly while also getting involved on the scoring front himself. As a passer, much of Lakhin and Hunter’s success can be chalked down to Zackary’s passing, combining extremely well with the big man in particular. The pair found gaps in the opposition through pick and pops, utilizing the most of the screener’s ability to stretch the floor and find space around the arc. Zackary finished the match with a game-high seven assists to go with his 16 points (6/9 shooting), seven rebounds and four steals in a stat-stuffing performance that was crucial in helping the Tigers gain an advantage.