Clemson needs extra time again to beat Wake Forest 80-75

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) _ Cliff Hammond's three-point play with just over a minute to go in overtime gave Clemson the lead for good as the Tigers beat Wake Forest 80-75 on Tuesday night.

Terrence Oglesby hit two 3-pointers in the extra period, with each one putting Clemson (15-4, 3-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) back in the lead.

The Tigers hit five of their six free throws in overtime, including two foul shots by K.C. Rivers that provided the final margin with five seconds to go. Clemson made just 7-of-16 free throws in the game, while Wake Forest only made seven of its 15 foul shots.

The Demon Deacons (12-6, 2-3) led 62-54 with just over five minutes to go in regulation before Clemson scored the next 11 points to take a 65-62 lead into the final minute.

Wake Forest's Ishmael Smith hit a 3-pointer with 49 seconds to go in the second half to tie the game. The Demon Deacons had a three-on-one break as the last seconds ticked away, but couldn't get a shot off before the buzzer.

Rivers led the Tigers with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Oglesby finished with 13 points, while James Mayes added nine points and 11 rebounds.

Smith scored 19 points to lead Wake Forest. James Johnson and L.D. Williams each added 14 points, and Chas McFarland scored nine points and had 13 rebounds.

Three of Clemson's first five ACC games have gone into overtime. The Tigers also have a win over Florida State and a loss to North Carolina in the extra sessions.

Recent games between the Demon Deacons and Tigers have been close. Three of the last four have gone into overtime, with the other game decided by two points.

"This is the fun part of playing basketball. The more time we play the more fun we have," Rivers said. "Why let it end at 40 minutes? Why not let it end at 45?"

His coach wasn't as thrilled. "That was another walk in the park," Clemson coach Oliver Purnell said. "I thought they outplayed us for about three-quarters of the game. But our guys kept fighting, and we got it to overtime. I felt like we were the better team during that stretch."

Purnell had to endure another bad night from the foul line for his team. The Tigers were 2-for-10 on free throws at one point.

"We have taken thousands of free throws," Purnell said. "We've just got to trust ourselves, trust our forms, and take our time."

Wake Forest coach Dino Gaudio said the loss was heartbreaking, especially after the team had played so well in Sunday's 74-57 win over Florida State.

"I thought our kids played their hearts out. I thought they played very hard and put themselves in a position to win the game," Gaudio said. "We had one day to get ready after FSU, and we came down here with a lot of heart and emotion but couldn't put the game out of reach."

Clemson's pressure seemed to finally wear down the Demon Deacons, who turned the ball over 22 times. Gaudio said his team has to give its point guard Smith more help.

"The guy played 42 minutes and went a hundred miles an hour," Gaudio said. "We could have had that one."