Edwards scores 21, No. 13 Louisville defeats No. 10 Clemson 76-73 to reach ACC championship game
Louisville guard Chucky Hepburn and Clemson center Viktor Lakhin vie for a loose ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament, Friday, March 14, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. Credit: AP/Chris Carlson
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Terrence Edwards scored 21 points, J’Vonne Hadley added 20 points and nine rebounds and No. 13 Louisville beat No. 10 Clemson 76-73 on Friday night in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament semifinals.
Chucky Hepburn, the hero of Louisville’s dramatic 75-73 quarterfinal win over Stanford, added 12 points for the Cardinals (27-6).
Chase Hunter had 23 points for Clemson (27-6), while Ian Schieffelin had 14 points and 12 rebounds.
Louisville is seeking its first ACC title on Saturday night, but No. 1 Duke, which held on to beat North Carolina 74-71 in the other semifinal, stands in its way.
The Cardinals held Clemson without a field goal for more than six minutes in the second half to built a 67-52 lead with 3:50 left.
But the Tigers cut their deficit to two with 54 seconds remaining on a layup from Hunter, who had 19 second-half points. After Louisville was called for a shot-clock violation, Clemson had the ball and chance to tie or take the lead.
But James Scott blocked Hunter's drive after switching off his man.
Clemson guard Chase Hunter steals the ball away from Louisville guard J'Vonne Hadley during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament, Friday, March 14, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. Credit: AP/Chris Carlson
Hepburn made 1 of 2 free throws with 6 seconds left to make a three-point game and Hunter's leaning 3-point shot from 25 feet at the buzzer missed.
Takeaways
Clemson: The Tigers showed toughness battling back late in the fourth quarter and could prove to be a tough out in the NCAA Tournament.
Louisville: The Cardinals may have shown a vulnerability as the Tigers were able to turn them over repeatedly with a full court press down the stretch.
Key moment
Scott's block on Hunter's layup was the game's biggest play, although Clemson was left screaming for a foul.
Louisville guard Terrence Edwards Jr. and guard J'Vonne Hadley vies for the ball with Clemson center Viktor Lakhin during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament, Friday, March 14, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. Credit: AP/Chris Carlson
Key stat
There were 41 fouls called in the game.
Up next
Clemson will await seed in the NCAA Tournament.
