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Off the cuff: The Carolina team, in turmoil after three straight losses, has been making an effort to gel more off the court. They had a catered event where they played Madden football, for instance. Armando Bacot, unsurprisingly, was undefeated.

Caleb Love, who led the way in the game against Clemson, said "We love each other" and "We played together today."

He mentioned that they have been trying to shut out the outside noise, something Coach Hubert Davis preaches.

"It's been rough obviously," he said. "But we didn't hang our heads. We addressed problems that needed to be addressed. And we came in here today with our heads on straight."

Love said he tried to give his teammates his all. It was probably Love's most complete game of the year. He led the way with 23 points on seven of 12 shooting including six of nine from three. But he also had five assists and only turned the ball over one time.

He said he concentrated on taking the right shot, admitting to taking one bad "heat-check" shot in transition. And he focused defensively on not slacking off when his man didn't have the ball.

If the fire has been lit under Love and Puff Johnson (eight points) can take up Pete Nance's scoring slack (he was zero of seven), this could be another interesting late-season run.

Carolina 91, Clemson 71
Love's 3-pointers help UNC dominate

A rejuvenated North Carolina team, led by Caleb Love's 23 points on six threes, dominated Clemson at home 91-71 to break a three-game losing streak. (2/11)

"I don't remember a game where Caleb played better whether it was his passing, his shot selection, his shot making or his defense," UNC coach Hubert Davis said.

Coming off a demoralizing loss to Wake Forest where Armando Bacot told his teammates to progress forward or don't show up, Carolina put together a complete effort beating the Tigers outside (with 15 three pointers) and inside (outscoring Clemson in the paint by eight points).

"That was the best performance of the season I believe," Coach Davis said. "The guys were having fun. It was a total team effort."

The game was close early as Clemson led 17-16 midway through the first half before back-to-back threes from Love put Carolina up 22-19. The Tar Heels would never trail again.

Up 42-33 at the half, UNC poured it on early in the second half, promptly a Clemson timeout in the first two minutes with the Heels up 51-35.

Carolina, indeed having fun, worked the lead up to 25 after Love hit a three from the right wing and R.J. Davis drilled a three from the left wing to make it 78-53 with 6:20 to go.

"I was emotional seeing how together they were playing and how much fun they were having," Coach Davis said.

Joining Love in double figures were Bacot, who scored 19, and R.J. Davis, who tallied 17. Leaky Black had a solid game for the Heels with seven points, seven rebounds, two assists, one block and a steal. He also covered Hunter Tyson, who averages 16 points but was held to just three points on two shots. Also, Puff Johnson, off the bench, scored eight points in 18 minutes.

Clemson, led by P.J. Hall's 18 points, falls to 18-7 overall and 10-4 in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

The Tar Heels, who have a quick turnaround against Miami Monday at 7 p.m., improves to 16-9 and 8-6 in the conference.

Box score

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