Capital Punishment: #Clemson falls to BC in DC, 76-55 (AUDIO) #ACCTourney

**Joseph Girard, III scored 11 points in the first half**

Photos provided by ACC

Washington, D.C.: For those planning a trip to our nation’s Capital, it takes a little more than two hours to take in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, or roughly the length of Clemson’s stay in the 2024 ACC Tournament. Boston College ousted the Tigers 76-55 at the Capital One Arena, Wednesday, in what was one of Clemson’s worst performances of the season.

The Tigers entered the game off a first-round bye and were favored by oddsmakers to handle the 11th-seeded Eagles with relative ease. The Eagles had other ideas and Clemson failed to match BC’s level of effort. Boston College forward Quinten Post knocked down a pair of foul shots coming out of the first media timeout to make it 8-7. Clemson never regained the lead, trailing for all but 1:19.

P.J. Hall and Joseph Girard, III did what they could, combining to score 38 of their team’s 55 points. Chase Hunter had a night to forget, however, missing all ten of his shots from the floor and finishing with just two points. Clemson was also badly outrebounded, 43-27, as Hall managed to gather just one board.

BC also bested the Tigers from the perimeter, outshooting Clemson 35%-20% from beyond the arc. Eagles guard Claudell Harris, Jr. (27 points) knocked down more 3-pointers (five) than Clemson did as a team (four). BC is now 8-0 when scoring 70 or more points this season.

The Tigers made a couple of runs in the second half, but never closing within less than ten points. Clemson’s momentum was stymied by its own poor shooting or inability to close out possessions with a defensive rebound. Boston College’s defense had a lot to do with the Tigers’ rough night, holding Clemson to 35% from the floor.

Head coach Brad Brownell took responsibility for his team’s miserable outing, “We just weren’t quite ready. Ultimately, that’s on me. I don’t really understand it. I thought we were, but we looked a half-step slow and lacked urgency.”

Clemson has run hot-and-cold down the stretch, looking ready for prime time in double-digit victories over Syracuse and Florida State, but spinning their wheels in losses to Notre Dame, Wake Forest and Boston College.

For Boston College, led by former College of Charleston head coach and Clemson assistant Earl Grant, it’s a date against Virginia in Thursday’s quarterfinals. Meanwhile, Clemson’s postseason fate now rests in the hands of the NCAA Selection Committee.

Brownell doesn’t have a feel for what seed his club may draw for the NCAA Tournament, but he’s proud of where they stand, “I give my players a lot of credit for what they’ve been able to accomplish over the last four months. Tonight was an oddity. We’ve played better basketball than this most other nights.”

ESPN’s Joe Lunardi projected Clemson as a no. 6 seed prior to Wednesday’s loss. Brownell and the Tigers will know their seed and destination for certain when the brackets are revealed on March 17.