The best start of the Brad Brownell era at Clemson, and the best start for the Tigers since 2008, continued Sunday at Pitt with a 79-70 win in the ACC opener for both teams. The Tigers are 7-0, and that sets up a showdown of unbeatens Wednesday night at Littlejohn Coliseum when South Carolina visits.
Clemson led for all but ninety seconds of the game and led by eleven points at halftime 37-26 as Joe Girard scored 12 points including three of five from three-point range. The Tigers pushed the lead to 15 at 53-38 with 11:19 left in the game. But the Panthers, sparked by the shooting of Blake Hinson, fought back and closed to within two points at 70-68 with 3:41 left. Hinson scored 13 of his game high 27 points during the Pitt surge.
But Ian Schieffelin scored four straight points, and PJ Hall banged home a three-pointer, and the Tigers re-established command of the game at 77-68 with 1:31 to play.
Girard finished with 25 points on 6-9 shooting from distance and 5-5 shooting from the line. Hall recorded a double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds. Schieffelin, who finished with eight points, also grabbed a career high of 17 rebounds.
The Tigers played without Alex Hemenway and Jack Clark who were out with injuries.