CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Clemson Tigers made history with their win against the SMU Mustangs, 57-54, by securing the most all-time wins of any Clemson team and advancing to the semifinal of the ACC Tournament.
At the end of the regular season, the 2024-25 Tigers needed just a single win to break the record for all-time win totals, which was held by the 1989-90 team. The 1989-90 team had a total of 26 wins, and Clemson’s most recent win against SMU marks its 27th win.
While the Tigers were up two in the final three seconds of the game, what could have been a game-changing call returned possession to Clemson and allowed it to secure the win.
From the opening tip, Clemson wasted no time making an impact, with forward Ian Schieffelin putting the first two points on the board. Schieffelin provided a strong presence inside, grabbing key rebounds and helping control the paint in the early minutes of the game. Schieffelin grabbed 12 boards, providing the Tigers with ample second-chance opportunities.
Defensively, the Tigers made their presence known by forcing 13 turnovers. SMU shot 7% from behind the arc and struggled to find rhythm against Clemson’s intensity early on. However, as the first half came to an end, SMU battled back with under a minute left when guard Boopie Miller made a driving layup, cutting the Tigers’ lead to one point at the break, 28-27.
Coming out of halftime, Clemson struggled to remain in control. SMU senior guard Chuck Harris made a quick layup to give SMU its first lead. Clemson had a scoring drought for about two minutes until Jaeden Zackery made a 3-point shot to bring Clemson back ahead.
Clemson trailed for the first eight minutes of the second half, then Chase Hunter connected a corner three to put the Tigers back in the lead, 41-39, with just over 11 minutes remaining. SMU, however, fired back with a 2-point tip shot made by forward Tibet Gorener to bring the game back to a tie.
The second half saw both teams trading baskets, with neither able to fully seize control. Clemson guard Chase Hunter delivered a key sequence for Clemson, scoring 21 points overall and making the final shot at the line keeping the game in the Tigers’ favor. On the other end, SMU’s forward Matt Cross kept the game within reach with timely baskets, scoring 13 points overall.
As the clock wound down, Clemson found itself in a back-and-forth battle. Tigers held a 2-point lead with just under two minutes left in the game. Chase Hunter stretched the lead to a two-possession game. In an exciting final minute, Clemson turned over the ball and brought Cross to the line to shoot two and make the score 56-54.
After a missed 3-point shot by Harris, the Tigers received the ball back to close out the game.
While Clemson came out on top, it was not without struggles. The Tigers shot only 19% from behind the arc, and turned the ball over 16 times, allowing SMU to capitalize 8 points on turnovers.
“We need to take care of the ball and make the right decisions,” Hunter said after the game. “Making sure we communicate on both defense and offense.”
With the win, Clemson advances to the next round of the conference tournament, where it will face the No. 2-seeded Louisville. The Tigers will look to carry their momentum forward and make a statement in postseason play.
