Men’s Hoops Upsets No. 12 North Carolina

February 4, 1999

CU vs. UNC Postgame Audio &middot CU’s Coach Shyatt &middot UNC’s Coach Guthridge

CLEMSON, S.C. – Terrell McIntyre scored 25 points and Clemson ended a six-game losing streak Thursday night with a 78-63 upset of No. 12 North Carolina.

With point guard Ed Cota still slowed by a calf injury, North Carolina committed 17 turnovers en route to a rare loss against Clemson.

The Heels (18-6, 6-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) had won their last nine regular-season games against the Tigers, and lead the all-time series 106-16. But Clemson (13-9, 2-6) started fast and made every big shot down the stretch.

Ademola Okulaja’s 3-pointer brought North Carolina within 45-41, but Tony Christie hit a 3-pointer with 6:15 remaining that started a 13-2 run that put Clemson ahead 58-43.

When North Carolina’s Ronald Curry made a long basket to cut it to 62-53, McIntyre answered with back-to-back 3-pointers.

Kris Lang, who led the Tar Heels with 16 points, got them within 68-60 with 3:04 left. But McIntyre hit a jumper and a foul shot to restore the cushion for Clemson.

Cota, who sat out the Tar Heels’ win against Georgia Tech on Sunday, missed a 3-pointer with 2:30 left and North Carolina faded with four misses down the stretch. Cota finished 3-of-6 from the field and scored seven points in 25 minutes.

Harold Jamison capped the victory with a dunk in the closing seconds, setting off a celebration by the sellout crowd at Littlejohn Coliseum. Jamison, a senior, stood pumping his fist and savoring just his second victory over the Tar Heels.

Christie scored a season-high 15 points as the Tigers broke their longest losing streak in 11 seasons.

Without Cota to start the first half, the Heels played sloppy basketball. They made 12 of 19 shots, but committed 13 turnovers and fell behind 39-31 at halftime.

Clemson used an 8-1 run midway through the period to take a 23-15 lead.

Cota’s long 3-pointer with 12.2 seconds left before halftime seemed like it might revive North Carolina, but Andrius Jurkunas followed with his second 3-pointer to close the half.

By PETE IACOBELLI Associated Press Writer