College basketball coaches want their teams playing their best basketball in February and March to gear up for postseason play. Clemson and Georgia may be a little ahead of schedule.
The two teams put on quite a show Sunday in the championship game of the Charleston Classic’s “Palmetto Bracket,” with the Tigers pulling out a 97-94 triumph in overtime over the previously unbeaten Bulldogs. The contest featured 64 made field goals, 80 total rebounds, 55 free throw attempts, and nine players reaching double figures. It’s the second time that Clemson has scored 97 points this season (Gardner-Webb) and the fifth time the Tigers have eclipsed 80 points in a game.
Reserve guard “Butta” Johnson came up huge in overtime for the Tigers. The Huntsville, Alabama, native scored seven of his thirteen points in the extra session, including his only three of the game, to put Clemson in front by five with just over two minutes to play in overtime. Jestin Porter also was instrumental in the win, scoring a season-high 18 points to lead six Clemson players in double figures. Georgia was paced by Jeremiah Wilkinson’s game-high 26. Blue Cain added 19 points and 7 rebounds for the Bulldogs.
Clemson (6-1) returns to the floor on “Black Friday” as the Tigers will host Alabama A&M at 7pm.