When in Rome….Clemson opens Italian tour with a win in a game shortened due to sweaty playing conditions on the floor

Release by Clemson

ROME – Clemson University men’s basketball played its first game of its 2026 Italy Tour on Wednesday in Rome, Italy. The game was called in the fourth quarter due to the playing court conditions. The court was accumulating too much moisture, and even with battling the conditions throughout, it became unplayable to finish.

The Tigers defeated BC Silute 40-35 and were led by Cole Certa (Le Roy, Ill./IMG/Notre Dame), who finished with 10 points. Liutauras Lelevicius (Kaunas, Lithuania/TCU) finished with nine, while Dallas Thomas (Little Rock, Ark./Parkview Magnet) added seven and Chase Thompson (Glenwood, Minn./Alexandria Area) added six. 

David Fuchs, Blake Davidson and Trent Steinour all found the scoring column for the Tigers. Thompson led Clemson with eight rebounds, while Thomas and Davidson each added five.

Clemson played without Zac Foster, Ace Buckner, Carter Welling and Dylan Faulkner, who are all out due to injury.