#16 Clemson to Play Host to Fourth-Ranked North Carolina Wednesday Night

Jan. 16, 2007

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Series Notes Overall: UNC Leads, 117-19 at Clemson: UNC leads 33-15 at Littlejohn: UNC leads 24-12 at UNC: UNC leads 52-0 at Neutral: UNC leads 32-4 Last Year: UNC, 76-61 at UNC Last CU Win: 81-72 in 2003-04 at Clem Streaks: UNC has won 5 in row

Quick Facts Clemson saw its school record tying winning streak end at 17 consecutive games at Maryland last Saturday. The 1986-87 team was also 17-0 before it suffered a loss (to Duke). Clemson still has not lost at home this year, winning 10 straight at Littlejohn and 14 in row over two seasons.

Clemson last defeated North Carolina on January 31, 2004, an 81-72 victory. The Tigers shot 11-13 from three-point land in that game, a Clemson record for percentage that still stands.

Clemson Head Coach Oliver Purnell and North Carolina Head Coach Roy Williams were assistant coaches together on the 2004 United States Olympic team.

Clemson point guard Vernon Hamilton went over the 1000 point mark in his career when he scored 15 points at Maryland. He now has 1009 in his career, seventh among Tiger point guards.

KC Rivers has scored in double figures in every game this year and the 18-game streak is a school record for a non-starter. He has made 12 of his last 17 three-point shots, including 8-9 last week.

Clemson is off to a 3-1 start in ACC play for the first time since the 1996-97 season. Clemson was the only ACC team that had to play three of its first four games on the road.

Clemson has defeated 10 top 20 North Carolina teams in Littlejohn Coliseum over the years. The most recent came in 2001 when the Tigers upset a #1 ranked North Carolina team 75-65.

James Mays had 22 points and 15 rebounds, including 11 offensive caroms in the loss at Maryland. It tied for the third most offensive rebounds by a Tiger player since 1978. Mays saw his streak of playing in 28 consecutive victories end at Maryland.

Mays ranks in the top 10 in the ACC in rebounding and steals, the only ACC player in the top 10 in both categories.

The top two players in the ACC in terms of assist/ turnover ratio will be on display Wednesday night. Clemson’s Cliff Hammonds leads the ACC with a 2.87 ratio while North Carolina’s Ty Lawson is second at 2.54.

This will be the first battle of top 25 teams in Littlejohn Coliseum since January 13, 1998 when Clemson was ranked 24th in USA Today and Florida State was 17th. Clemson won the game, 86-65. This is the first battle of top 25 teams in the North Carolina vs. Clemson series since Jan. 2, 1999 when a 14th ranked Clemson team lost at ninth ranked North Carolina, 78-63.

Clemson is 16-7 in battles of top 25 teams in Littlejohn Coliseum over the years, but just 1-4 vs. North Carolina.