In a nail-biting game, the Clemson men’s basketball team shocked the No. 2 Duke Blue Devils, 77-71, on Saturday at Littlejohn Coliseum. Here are some ups and downs from the game:
Paws up: First half overall play
Although the Tigers trailed for most of the first half, they put up a fierce fight to keep the game close. Clemson showcased impressive shooting efficiency, sinking 68% of its shots from the field compared to Duke’s 58%.
“I wish they didn’t shoot as well,” Duke head coach Jon Scheyer said. “They shot 68% in the first half, and we were still winning. That is pretty incredible.”
The Tigers dominated in the paint with 20 points, edging out Duke’s 18. Forward Ian Schieffelin grabbed three key rebounds, contributing to Clemson’s 11 total rebounds in the half. The team was able to limit Duke’s largest lead to just 9 points before going on a 6-0 run to close the gap.
Heading into halftime, the Tigers had narrowed Duke’s lead to 41-35.
The Tigers held Duke standout Cooper Flagg to just 4 points in the first half, something that was an emphasis for the team throughout the game’s preparation.
“We did a good job on him,” center Viktor Lakhin said. “Hopefully, we’re going to see him again in the tournament.”
Paws down: Turnovers
Just one minute after tipoff, Clemson gave up possession of the ball twice, giving their opponent 6 points off turnovers early on. Blue Devil guard Tyrese Proctor hit a 3-point shot from behind the arc off one turnover, allowing Duke to put up the first points on the board.
The trend continued throughout the first half, with the Tigers committing 10 turnovers, allowing Duke to score 18 points off those mistakes.
A key moment came with under a minute left in the half when Jaeden Zackery turned the ball over, leading to a fast break dunk by Flagg.
Clemson cleaned up turnovers immensely in the second half, totaling only 12 overall.
Paws up: Second-half surge
The Tigers came out hot in the second half, taking their first lead with just over 13 minutes left on the clock thanks to a 12-0 run over four minutes.
Momentum shifted as Clemson’s defense locked in, with Chase Hunter delivering a block that rattled Duke and gave Clemson possession in the final seven seconds of the game. The block would seal the win.
Clemson capitalized on 20-for-27 possessions and dominated the boards with 36 rebounds, 25 of which came in the second half. Schieffelin stepped up big in this category, pulling down seven second-half rebounds to collect his ninth double-double of the season.
Paws down: Free throws and 3-point shooting
Despite the win, Clemson struggled at the free-throw line, shooting just 50% in the first half and 59% overall. Those missed opportunities left points on the table that could have extended the team’s lead.
From behind the arc, the Tigers also struggled to find consistency. While head coach Brad Brownell saw his team enter the game second in the ACC in 3-point percentage, Clemson only scored four triples in the win, using the paint to net the victory.
Clemson will be back in action at Littlejohn Coliseum on Monday night when the team takes on the North Carolina Tar Heels. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
