LINDY'S POSTGAME REPORT

UNC survives Clemson despite Williams scare

Dick Cox

March 04, 2019 at 2:06 pm.

Mar 2, 2019; Clemson, SC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Luke Maye (32) goes in for the layup during the first half against the Clemson Tigers at Littlejohn Coliseum. Tar Heels won 81-79. Photo Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports

Mar 2, 2019; Clemson, SC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Luke Maye (32) goes in for the layup during the first half against the Clemson Tigers at Littlejohn Coliseum. Tar Heels won 81-79. Photo Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports

The North Carolina Tar heels survived two big scares to come away with a hard fought 81-79 ACC win over the Clemson Tigers at Clemson.

The first scare came a minute before halftime when UNC Hall of Fame Head Coach Roy Williams collapsed on the sideline due to an issue with vertigo. After receiving medical attention on the court, Williams was assisted to the locker room by the UNC medical staff and did not return.

Tar heel assistant coach Steve Robinson, the former Florida State coach who spent the past 16 seasons with the Tar Heels, took over for Williams and guided North Carolina to the victory. Robinson didn’t have much time to be concerned.

He told his players that Williams would be OK and it was time to concentrate on basketball.

”If I waffle, what do you think those guys are going to do?” Robinson said. ”They’re going to fall apart.”

The second scare came when the Tar heels 70-63 lead was cut to two points in the final seconds before holding on for their fifth consecutive win and 12th in the past 13 games. Clemson had a chance to tie the score on the final play of the game as Shelton Mitchell drove to the basket and was knocked down, but the officials did not call anything and the clock ran out.

Tar Heels freshman point guard Coby White had 28 points including six 3-pointers; Cameron Johnson had 19 points with six 3s of his own; and Luke Maye had 13 points and 10 rebounds as North Carolina (24-5) maintained a share of first place in the Atlantic Coast Conference, tied with No. 2 Virginia at 14-2 with a week left in the regular season.

Marquise Reed led Clemson with 24 points, while Elijah Thomas had 14 points and 11 rebounds. It was the fourth time this ACC season that Clemson lost on the final play. The Tigers missed a golden opportunity to get a signature win as they are fighting to get NCAA bid to postseason play.

Clemson Head Coach Brad Brownell said he watched video of the final drive. ”It was tough; it was tough,” he said.

After the game, Williams shook hands with Brownell in the hallway. He was smiling and speaking to fans and friends, feeling better after his latest bout of what he called ”benign positional vertigo.” Williams, 68, has had vertigo before during games, leaving a win over Boston College three years ago.

Watch the postgame report here