In its final road game of the season, Clemson defeated Boston College 78-69 in Conte Forum. The win marks Clemson’s eighth straight win on the road, and its seventh straight victory, which ties for a program record.
Despite Clemson (25-5, 17-2 ACC) leading by as much as 16, the Eagles were able to fight their way back into the game late in the second half. A pair of Boston College free throws cut the lead to just one possession with 5:30 remaining, and following a Chauncey Wiggins turnover, the Eagles had the opportunity to tie the No. 11 team in the country late in the contest.
Brownell followed the untimely turnover with a substitution, opting with guard Dillon Hunter for a small ball lineup. The decision paid dividends for Clemson, as Hunter was able to immediately force a turnover, stripping the ball from Boston College’s Jayden Hastings.
Clemson’s win streak began when Brad Brownell opted to finish with his three-guard lineup, switching Hunter for Wiggins and winning seven in a row.
What followed the Eagles’ turnover was one of the strongest efforts on Wednesday night for the Tigers.
For the final 5:30, Boston College did not score a single point. Multiple missed free throws, countless turnovers and eager, tenacious defense from the Tigers halted any hope of an upset in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.
The win brought Clemson’s regular season win total to 25, which ties the program record. With one game remaining on the schedule, the Tigers have the opportunity to secure the most successful regular season in the history of the program.
After three seasons at Boston College, transfer senior Jaeden Zackery shined against his former team, going 7-of-12 from the field and scoring 21 points. The star guard came just one point shy of tying his career high, which he set for Boston College last season against Clemson in the ACC Tournament.
Chase Hunter stood out as well, contributing 18 points and two steals on 6-for-10 shooting. His efforts tonight allowed him to surpass PJ Hall on Clemson’s all-time scoring list, propelling him to seventh all-time with 1,720 total points scored.
The Clemson frontcourt continued to shine, with a combined 24 points and 21 rebounds from Ian Schieffelin and Viktor Lakhin. Lahkin shined late in the second half with a crucial steal during Clemson’s defensive stance. He also had a pair of offensive rebounds to help bleed the clock with under three minutes remaining.
As a team, the Tigers were efficient in scoring. Coming off an inconsistent performance from beyond the arc — where the team only hit one 3-pointer — Clemson was able to shoot at a 40% clip, going 8-of-20 from the three.
While the game didn’t end in Boston College’s favor, an array of Eagles shined in the matchup. Hastings, a freshman, had a standout game with 18 points on a perfect shooting night. Elijah Strong and Dion Brown shined as well, each notching 15 points.
With one game left in what has turned out to be a memorable regular season, Clemson looks to take care of business against the Virginia Tech Hokies in Littlejohn on March 8.
