CHAPEL HILL, N.C. _ "The Streak" lives.
Even an unbelievable shooting performance by Clemson couldn't net the Tigers their first win in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Cam Johnson led No. 15 North Carolina to its 59th straight home win over No. 20 Clemson with 21 points in an 87-79 decision at the Smith Center on Tuesday night.
Clemson (15-3, 4-2 ACC) made 15 straight field goals, and didn't miss for more than 12 minutes in the second half, to trim what was an 18-point deficit down to 2 but UNC (15-4, 4-2) never gave up the lead.
With the Tar Heels clinging to a 66-64 lead, Johnson buried one of his six 3-pointers for some breathing room.
After a pair of free throws by Marcquise Reed (21 points), UNC's defense came up with a shot-clock violation and Luke Maye added another 3 to keep UNC up 72-66.
Maye, who needed five stitches to close up a cut on his nose he suffered in the first half, added another 3 at 1:49 to make it 78-70.
Theo Pinson's late free throws (8 of 8) kept "The Streak," the longest home streak in NCAA history, safe for another year.
It was definitely in doubt there the way Clemson was making every shot it took.
They kept whittling away at the lead, and not missing, for 12 minutes. David Skara finally missed a 3-pointer at 7:02 but by that point the Tigers only trailed 66-62. They finished 19 of 31 (61.3 percent) in the second half.
Kenny Williams led UNC early, with 12 first-half points, as the Heels built a 38-23 halftime lead. UNC's passing was particularly sharp with 11 assists on its first 12 field goals.
Clemson looked out of sorts and trailed 20-8 in the first 9 minutes. Even the absence of Maye, who missed the last 2 minutes of the half after getting a cut on his nose, didn't spark Clemson.
It wasn't until Shelton Mitchell missed the first shot of the second half, a 3-pointer, that Clemson got in gear.
But UNC wouldn't let "The Streak" die.
