The first night of the ACC-SEC Challenge saw the SEC win four of the seven games, but Clemson did their part for the ACC downing #23 Alabama in Tuscaloosa 85-77. The Tigers led 33-32 at the half, then shot 60% in the second half to win their sixth straight game to start the season. They are off to their best start since the 2008-09 season when they started 16-0.
Alabama came out quickly in the second half and established a seven-point lead in the first seven minutes. The game then turned in favor of the Tigers midway through the second half when they went on a 6-0 run to break a 53-53 tie. They kept the lead the rest of the way, always having an answer to any charge the Tide might make.
Clemson led 70-66 with 5:28 to play when Joe Girard and Chase Hunter hit back-to-back threes to make it a ten-point game. The Tide could get no closer than five points the rest of the way as PJ Hall scored the Tigers’ final six points.
Clemson outshot the Tide 53% to 34% and matched them with 11 three-pointers. The teams were even overall on the boards though Alabama had 16 offensive rebounds, but only 11 second chance points. Clemson won the paint 32-22 but was outscored 17-0 in fastbreak points.
Despite foul trouble that limited him to 21 minutes, Hall led Clemson with 21 points and also grabbed eight rebounds. Girard added 16 points, including four-three pointers. He passed former Duke star Jay Williams for ninth place all-time in the ACC for three-pointers.
The Tigers will play their first ACC game of the season Saturday at Pitt.