November 22, 2008 | AP Press

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — K.C. Rivers scored a go-ahead layup with 43.2 seconds to help Clemson beat Charlotte 71-70 on Saturday night.

Rivers added 12 points and eight rebounds for the Tigers (5-0), who led by as many as eight points early in the second half. Demontez Stitt scored 14 points for Clemson.

Clemson pulled ahead 50-42 with less than 15 minutes remaining in the game, but the 49ers (2-3) tied the score at 67 on Charlie Coley’s follow dunk with 1:01 remaining.

But Rivers’ layup with 43.2 seconds left put the Tigers back in the lead at 69-67.

Clemson then pulled ahead by four points on a pair of Stitt free throws with 16.4 seconds left, but Lamont Mack’s 3-pointer 10 seconds later cut Clemson’s margin to one point.

Ian Andersen scored a career-high 21 points for Charlotte (1-3). Mack scored 11 points and Phil Jones added 10.