Postgame Notes
Littlejohn Coliseum, Clemson: Clemson 68-USC 61
- South Carolina jumped out to a 12-5 lead in the first five minutes with Mike Sharavjamts scoring six points on layups and Clemson started 0-4 from the floor.
- Clemson then scored 15 straight points over the next 5:25 to take a 20-12 lead, with seven different Tigers scoring during the run. Clemson never trailed from there.
- Clemson held at least a five point lead the rest of the half and led 34-27 at the break.
- Ace Buckner sparked a second half spurt with a three-pointer and two layups, and the Tigers went up by 12 at 46-34 with 12 minutes to play.
- Meanwhile, the Gamecocks committed seven turnovers over the first nine minutes of the second half.
- The Tigers maintained a double-digit lead most of the rest of the way, with their biggest lead hitting 13 points.
- Clemson had one stretch of five straight made shots, with Buckner starting the streak with a layup and finishing it with a jumper.
- The lead was 11 with 3;27 to play when Nordin Kapic scored five straight points to pull the Gamecocks to within six at 65-59 with :48 remaining.
- Clemson missed its last four field goal attempts, but made three free throws down the stretch to go up nine, and the Gamecocks scored their final basket with four seconds to play.
- USC finished 4-26 from three (15.4%), and the Gamecocks are 7-49 from distance over their last two games.
- Clemson was 5-14 on three-pointers, and 19-31 from the foul line.
- Clemson’s bench was big, outscoring the Gamecock’s bench 41-14.
- South Carolina committed nine of its 14 turnovers in the second half, and Clemson scored 16 points off the 14 turnovers. Clemson committed eight turnovers.
- The Gamecocks won the boards 33-29, third straight game they have outrebounded their opponent.
- Buckner led Clemson with a career high 19 points off the bench.
- The Gamecocks’ Meechie Johnson didn’t score until the 13:04 mark of the second half. He did not make a three, was 2-9 from the floor and finished with eight points.
- Sharavjamts and Kobe Knox led the Gamecocks with 13 points each.
- USC played without guard Eli Ellis who sat out with a sprained ankle. Clemson guard Zac Foster suffered a knee injury early in the game and will have an MRI Wednesday.
- Clemson is 9-3 and will play Cincinnati Sunday in Greenville, and USC is 7-4 and will host SC State on Monday.
- The Gamecocks now lead the series with the Tigers 93-82.
Final Stats
