Someone forgot to tell Ian Schieffelin that March is still several days away.
With just under six minutes to go in the first half, the Clemson Tigers were playing a half of basketball they hoped to forget. It was a half of sloppiness, uncharacteristic missed shots and careless turnovers. Notre Dame had just put themselves on top 22-21 with a 10-0 run, and the lethargic Tigers took a timeout.
Then, the star from last year’s Elite Eight run decided it was time to play at a tournament level, scoring a career-high 24 points. Notre Dame never obtained another lead as the Tigers went on to defeat the Fighting Irish 83-68 at Littlejohn Coliseum on Wednesday night.
Clemson star guard Chase Hunter only had three points to his name in the first half, but that did not mean he failed to have an impact. Hunter started the half playing an efficient two-man game with center Viktor Lakhin on a pick-and-roll game, assisting both of Lakhin’s early baskets and dishing a hard pass to his brother Dillon, who buried a wing 3-pointer.
Altogether, Chase Hunter entered the halftime locker room with six assists to his name, but he was far from satisfied. Despite Chase’s success assisting his teammates, he struggled to get going himself.
On the other side, Notre Dame guard Markus Burton could not be stopped. He buried 3-pointers from the top of the key, euro-stepped unsuspecting defenders and kept the Fighting Irish in the game. Burton ended the first half with 17 points.
The Tigers (23-5, 15-2) were in an evenly matched game against an inferior ACC opponent; they needed a spark to get going, and Schieffelin took the torch.
Schieffelin started by scoring a layup on a second-chance opportunity to end the Fighting Irish run. On the next possession, he took over on the defensive end right away, getting a steal and burying a transition three. Schieffelin had 10 straight Clemson points before any of his teammates even had a chance to make a shot of their own.
When asked about taking over the game, the veteran remained humble.
“Just trying to pick it up where it’s needed,” the senior said after the game. “That’s kind of been my role all year, doing the dirty work and finding ways to win, and today was my turn to make some shots.”
By the time the first half came to an end, the 1-point deficit had turned into a 10-point Tiger lead.
The Tigers’ second-half plan was clear: keep riding with what was working. The ball stayed in the hands of Schieffelin and Lakhin, scoring the first 8 Clemson points of the first half, including Lakhin assisting Schieffelin on a layup in the paint.
The two-man game also included Schieffelin taking control in the post and finishing a hook shot for his 1,000th career point. The Atlanta, Georgia, didn’t take his foot off the gas. When all was said and done, the Clemson veteran had 24 points, nine rebounds and three assists.
Schieffelin’s energy became contagious, and the rest of the team caught on, including Jaeden Zackery. Zackery, who finished the game with 11 points, got involved with the big men in the offense, converting an and-1 and burying a jump shot.
Jake Heidbreder also made an impact from behind the arc, scoring 14 points, 11 of which were in the second half. Along with his scoring output, he added to Clemson’s defensive effort, especially with the newfound energy in the second half.
“I couldn’t be more happy for Jake,” head coach Brad Brownell said. “He’s a good player that’s been coming off our bench and working really hard.”
On the perimeter, the Tiger guards became their usual, aggressive selves again, with an energy that could be felt throughout the entire arena. Lakhin’s intimidating presence kept Notre Dame players clear of the basket. The Clemson big man finished with 18 points, five rebounds, five assists and two blocks.
Notre Dame (12-16, 6-11 ACC) remained in reach of the Tigers for the start of the second half. Over time, the Tigers wore down their opponents and turned an 8-point lead into a 15-point victory against an ACC opponent.
The win marks the most wins in an ACC campaign in Clemson program history with 15. The win also secures a double-bye spot in the ACC Tournament, the second time in three years the team has done so.
Next up, the Tigers will travel to Virginia to take on the Cavaliers on Saturday at noon.
