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Clemson snaps 0-59 record in Chapel Hill with OT win over North Carolina

Clemson v North Carolina

CHAPEL HILL, NC - JANUARY 16: (L-R) Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels talks to head coach Brad Brownell of the Clemson Tigers before their game at Dean Smith Center on January 16, 2018 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

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The streak is over.

Most of the college sports world is fixated on Clemson’s football team. The Tigers are playing for the national title Monday night against LSU. A win would give Clemson football 30 consecutive wins. That’s fabled territory in recent college football history.

But the Tigers basketball team triumphed in a unique way of its own on Saturday. They snapped a losing streak of infamy against a long-time ACC foe. Clemson’s 79-76 overtime win over North Carolina broke an incredible 0-59 mark for the program in Chapel Hill.

Clemson basketball, of course, celebrated way beyond your typical ACC road win.

Clemson improved to 8-7 with the win. Aamir Simms hit a critical game-tying three in regulation while leading the Tigers with 20 points. If Clemson doesn’t turn things around after a 2-3 start in the ACC, this win can still be a signature moment for this season.

The loss for North Carolina loss continues an absolute freefall. Injuries and inconsistent play have derailed a once-promising season for the Tar Heels. They drop to 8-8 with the loss with a 1-4 mark in ACC play.

Head coach Roy Williams also continued his recent string of emotional remarks following the loss.

“We’ve had some great moments as a coach and right now I’d say this is my lowest one because losing this game was my fault,” Williams said. “Told them if I die tomorrow or 20 years from now that’ll be the biggest regret I had in 32 years as a coach. Cause these kids really need a win. And their coach let them down today.”

Williams also implied that North Carolina should look to remove him as head coach for letting the players down.

Losers of three straight games, North Carolina hits the road to play Pitt and Virginia Tech. They will try to salvage the season away from home during a trying time.