North Carolina Edges Clemson in Close Contest
Tuesday, March 3, 2026, 7:00 PM ET · Dean E. Smith Center
North Carolina Tar Heels 67, Clemson Tigers 63, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Clemson Tigers vs North Carolina Tar Heels?
North Carolina Tar Heels beat Clemson Tigers 67-63 at Dean E. Smith Center on March 3, 2026.
Who was favored in Clemson Tigers vs North Carolina Tar Heels?
North Carolina Tar Heels were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -155 (about 61% implied). The favorite won.
In a tightly contested matchup, the North Carolina Tar Heels triumphed over the Clemson Tigers with a final score of 67-63 at the Dean E. Smith Center. This victory marked an important win for the Tar Heels, who have been on a strong run recently, winning three consecutive games and boasting an overall home record of 24-6. Their recent form has seen them average 78.0 points scored while allowing 74.2 points over their last ten games, with an impressive 8-2 record during that stretch.
Clemson, on the other hand, has had a more mixed bag of results lately, finishing their last ten games with a 5-5 record and an average of 70.1 points scored against 68.7 points allowed. They entered this game with a one-game winning streak after defeating the Louisville Cardinals 80-75 in their previous outing. Their overall record stands at 21-9, with a home record of 2-3 and an away record of 3-2 in their last five games.
The Tar Heels have been particularly strong at home, where they have not lost in their last five games, while the Tigers have struggled on the road, winning only three of their last five away games. In their previous meeting during the 2025 season, North Carolina faced a significant defeat against Clemson, losing 65-85, which added an extra layer of motivation for the Tar Heels in this rematch.
In terms of injuries, the block does not specify any key players missing from either side, indicating that both teams were likely at full strength for this crucial matchup. The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, had North Carolina favored by 2.5 points, with a total set at 141.5. The odds for the Tar Heels to win straight up were -155.0, while Clemson's moneyline stood at 130.0.
The game conditions were typical for a late-season college basketball matchup, held in front of a home crowd eager to support their Tar Heels. Viewers were treated to a competitive atmosphere as both teams battled for supremacy on the court.
As the game progressed, it became clear that every possession mattered. Key moments included a series of free throws and a critical three-pointer from Derek Dixon that brought the score to 64-59 in favor of North Carolina. The Tar Heels maintained their lead down the stretch, with Seth Trimble sealing the game with a free throw that pushed the score to 67-63.
Overall, this game showcased the resilience of North Carolina as they continued their strong home performance, while Clemson will look to regroup after a hard-fought loss. The matchup not only highlighted the competitive nature of college basketball but also set the stage for both teams as they move closer to the postseason.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | UNC -2.5 | 141.5 o -110 / u -110 | Clemson Tigers +130 · North Carolina Tar Heels -155 |
Leaders
- PointsLuka Bogavac20North Carolina Tar Heels
- AssistsHenri Veesaar4North Carolina Tar Heels
- ReboundsJarin Stevenson10North Carolina Tar Heels
- PointsRJ Godfrey22Clemson Tigers
- AssistsDillon Hunter4Clemson Tigers
- ReboundsRJ Godfrey9Clemson Tigers
Recent form
North Carolina Tar Heels
Last 10: 8-2Streak W378 scored · 74.2 allowed per game5-0 at home
- W89-82vs Virginia Tech HokiesMar 1
- W77-74vs Louisville CardinalsFeb 24
- W77-64at Syracuse OrangeFeb 21
- L58-82at NC State WolfpackFeb 18
- W79-65vs Pittsburgh PanthersFeb 14
- L66-75at Miami HurricanesFeb 11
- W71-68vs Duke Blue DevilsFeb 7
- W87-77vs Syracuse OrangeFeb 3
- W91-75at Georgia Tech Yellow JacketsJan 31
- W85-80at Virginia CavaliersJan 24
Clemson Tigers
Last 10: 5-5Streak W170.1 scored · 68.7 allowed per game3-2 away
- W80-75vs Louisville CardinalsFeb 28
- L65-70vs Florida State SeminolesFeb 21
- L77-85at Wake Forest Demon DeaconsFeb 19
- L54-67at Duke Blue DevilsFeb 14
- L66-76vs Virginia Tech HokiesFeb 12
- W77-55at California Golden BearsFeb 8
- W66-64at Stanford CardinalFeb 5
- W63-52vs Pittsburgh PanthersJan 31
- W77-63at Georgia Tech Yellow JacketsJan 24
- L76-80vs NC State WolfpackJan 21
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duke | 35-3 | - | 17-1 |
| Virginia | 30-6 | 2 | 15-3 |
| Miami | 26-9 | 4 | 13-5 |
| North Carolina | 24-9 | 5 | 12-6 |
| Clemson | 24-11 | 5 | 12-6 |
| Louisville | 24-11 | 6 | 11-7 |
| NC State | 20-14 | 7 | 10-8 |
| Florida State | 18-15 | 7 | 10-8 |
| California | 22-12 | 8 | 9-9 |
| Stanford | 20-13 | 8 | 9-9 |
| Virginia Tech | 19-13 | 9 | 8-10 |
| SMU | 20-14 | 9 | 8-10 |
| Wake Forest | 18-17 | 10 | 7-11 |
| Syracuse | 15-17 | 11 | 6-12 |
| Pittsburgh | 13-20 | 12 | 5-13 |
| Notre Dame | 13-18 | 13 | 4-14 |
| Boston College | 11-20 | 13 | 4-14 |
| Georgia Tech | 11-20 | 15 | 2-16 |
Box score
| Stat | Clemson Tigers | North Carolina Tar Heels |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 26-60 | 22-58 |
| Field goal % | 43 | 38 |
| Three-pointers | 7-20 | 12-27 |
| Three-point % | 35 | 44 |
| Free throws | 4-6 | 11-15 |
| Free throw % | 67 | 73 |
| Rebounds | 36 | 37 |
| Offensive rebounds | 7 | 9 |
| Defensive rebounds | 29 | 28 |
| Assists | 11 | 13 |
| Steals | 4 | 6 |
| Blocks | 5 | 2 |
| Turnovers | 10 | 9 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 1 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 14 | 13 |
| Fast-break points | 6 | 3 |
| Points in the paint | 34 | 18 |
| Fouls | 15 | 15 |
| Largest lead | 5 | 7 |
| Lead changes | 10 | 10 |
| Time in front | 30 | 65 |
How the scoring went
- 1st Half25-27Nick Davidson makes 10-foot floating jump shot (Dillon Hunter assists)
- 1st Half27-27Butta Johnson makes 21-foot step back jumpshot
- 1st Half30-27Butta Johnson makes 26-foot three point jumper (Jake Wahlin assists)
- 2nd Half32-27RJ Godfrey makes 5-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half32-29Henri Veesaar makes 1-foot dunk
- 2nd Half34-29RJ Godfrey makes layup
- 2nd Half34-32Luka Bogavac makes 25-foot three point jumper (Jarin Stevenson assists)
- 2nd Half37-32Carter Welling makes 25-foot three point jumper (RJ Godfrey assists)
- 2nd Half37-34Henri Veesaar makes layup (Luka Bogavac assists)
- 2nd Half37-35Seth Trimble makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half37-38Luka Bogavac makes 24-foot three pointer (Jarin Stevenson assists)
- 2nd Half37-39Jarin Stevenson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half37-40Jarin Stevenson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half37-41Jarin Stevenson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half37-42Jarin Stevenson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half37-44Jarin Stevenson makes layup
- 2nd Half40-44Carter Welling makes 25-foot three point jumper (Dillon Hunter assists)
- 2nd Half42-44Ace Buckner makes 13-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half44-44RJ Godfrey makes layup
- 2nd Half44-47Jonathan Powell makes 25-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half46-47RJ Godfrey makes driving layup
- 2nd Half48-47RJ Godfrey makes 4-foot hook shot
- 2nd Half48-49Henri Veesaar makes driving layup
- 2nd Half50-49RJ Godfrey makes 22-foot jumper (Dillon Hunter assists)
- 2nd Half52-49Jestin Porter makes 7-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half52-52Luka Bogavac makes 25-foot three point jumper (Henri Veesaar assists)
- 2nd Half52-53Henri Veesaar makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half55-53Carter Welling makes 25-foot three point jumper (Jestin Porter assists)
- 2nd Half55-56Luka Bogavac makes 25-foot three point step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half55-59Luka Bogavac makes 24-foot three point jumper (Jarin Stevenson assists)
- 2nd Half55-61Seth Trimble makes 14-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half58-61Ace Buckner makes 25-foot three pointer (Butta Johnson assists)
- 2nd Half59-61RJ Godfrey makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half59-64Derek Dixon makes 25-foot three pointer
- 2nd Half60-64Dillon Hunter makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half61-64Dillon Hunter makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half63-64Dillon Hunter makes driving layup
- 2nd Half63-65Luka Bogavac makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half63-66Luka Bogavac makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half63-67Seth Trimble makes free throw 1 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours North Carolina Tar Heels, below favours Clemson Tigers.
Venue
- Dean E. Smith CenterChapel Hill, NC
- Attendance20753
- OfficialsBrian O'Connell, Ron Groover, Tony Chiazza
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- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond