North Texas Vs Tulsa fades as Ace Buckner finds his ACC moment
Ace Buckner walked into the ACC Tournament for the first time and left with a box score that matched the night: eight points, five rebounds, and three assists in Clemson’s 71-62 win over Wake Forest in Charlotte, N. C. While north texas vs tulsa may sit elsewhere on the calendar, Buckner’s focus narrowed to one thing Wednesday night — playing meaningful minutes for a fifth-seeded team that keeps spreading the work around.
Ace Buckner at the Spectrum Center, and a first taste of March
Buckner is a Clemson redshirt freshman guard, and Wednesday’s second-round ACC Tournament game at the Spectrum Center gave him a first look at what tournament basketball feels like. He described it in plain terms after the game, centering on the experience of playing “in front of fans and my family” and alongside his teammates.
His production came with range. Buckner hit two 3-pointers as Clemson made 10 threes overall, a detail that mattered because Wake Forest had to chase shots all night. Clemson’s bench made its presence felt too, with a 34-20 advantage in bench points, even as the bench-to-bench margin within that category was 17-16.
The result pushed Clemson forward with a record listed at 23-9, and it did so without a single player needing to dominate the story. Ten Tigers played at least 10 minutes, and each scored at least three points. For Buckner, the numbers were evidence of what he was describing: a team where the minutes and responsibilities move quickly from one player to the next.
Juke Harris and Wake Forest, and the 71-62 line that sent them home
On the other side, Wake Forest leaned on Juke Harris. Harris, identified as being from Salisbury, rebounded from what was described as a shaky first-round game and delivered 22 points in the loss. He shot 7-for-12 from the field, made 3-of-7 from 3-point range, and went 5-for-6 at the foul line. He added four assists, and his scoring streak reached 33 consecutive games in double figures, extending a school record.
The early stretch told part of the game’s shape. Clemson launched 13 3-pointers in the first 12-plus minutes, making seven of them and building a 29-18 lead. That kind of opening doesn’t end a game by itself, but it changes the decisions that follow — the pace, the shot selection, and how much margin a team has left for empty trips.
Wake Forest’s season record was listed at 17-16. The context also noted that Wake Forest declined an NIT bid last season, but would accept one this time if it is offered. Nothing about that is guaranteed, yet it frames how a Wednesday night loss can turn quickly into waiting for the next decision.
North Texas Vs Tulsa aside, Clemson’s depth carries into North Carolina at 9: 30 p. m. ET
In the middle of March, the loudest message sometimes comes from the shared parts of the box score. Buckner called this Clemson group “different from any team I’ve been on, ” pointing to how many players can “go out and produce every night. ” He put a number on it — 11 guys, 10 guys — and the point was simple: it is hard for opponents to defend and prepare when the scoring and playmaking do not belong to one name.
That depth now travels into Clemson’s next game. The Tigers return to the court tonight to face fourth-seeded North Carolina in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals, with tipoff slated for 9: 30 p. m. ET. North Carolina’s record was listed at 24-7, setting up a matchup between teams separated by seeding and defined, at least for Clemson, by how many players can tilt a possession.
Buckner’s story also runs through a familiar last name. He is the son of Clemson legend Greg Buckner, a four-year starter from 1994-98 who was enshrined in the Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005. The context noted Greg Buckner’s 1, 754 career points, his 14. 4 points per game average, two All-ACC selections, and recognition as the 1994-95 ACC Rookie of the Year. It also listed his professional stops and added that he is now an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Asked what his father has told him about the ACC Tournament, Ace Buckner said he does not tell him too much. The message was narrower: “Stay confident” and keep doing what he does day to day. In a tournament where the next game arrives quickly, that kind of instruction lands best when it is paired with minutes, shots, and rebounds that show up on the stat line.
For readers tracking north texas vs tulsa, this night belonged elsewhere — in Charlotte, with Clemson advancing and Wake Forest walking off after a 71-62 final. Buckner entered the tournament wanting the experience. He leaves Wednesday with it, plus a 9: 30 p. m. ET tip waiting against North Carolina, and a team identity built on how little it asks any one player to be the whole story.
