In a hard-fought rivalry clash at Littlejohn Coliseum, the Clemson Tigers pulled off a 68-61 victory over the South Carolina Gamecocks on Tuesday night, taking home bragging rights in the annual Palmetto series matchup.
After falling to the Gamecocks 91-88 in overtime last season at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina, Clemson got its revenge.
The Tigers, 9-3, jumped out to an early lead and maintained control for much of the night, improving their home record to a perfect 7-0 this season. Despite an early 12-5 deficit, Clemson responded with a strong run and didn’t look back.
Ace Buckner was the star of the evening, scoring a team-high 19 points off the bench, including key free throws in the closing seconds to secure the victory. Buckner also hauled in seven rebounds in the best performance of his blossoming collegiate career.
Carter Welling emerged as another game changer, adding a season-high 16 points and contributing three steals, helping fuel Clemson’s offensive momentum throughout the contest.
The night brought mixed emotions for the Tigers, however, as freshman guard Zac Foster suffered a torn ACL during the first half. Foster went down on a drive to the basket and did not return, dealing a significant blow to Clemson’s backcourt rotation. Head coach Brad Brownell called it an unfortunate injury and praised Foster’s work ethic and future potential. Foster will not return this season.
“It’s an extremely unfortunate injury for Zac and our team,” Brownell said. “Zac is a hard worker and a valuable member of our backcourt. I know he will be determined in his rehab and has a very bright future ahead of him here in Clemson.”
Clemson built an early advantage behind aggressive defense and efficient ball movement, forcing South Carolina into tough shots and capitalizing on turnovers. The Tigers carried that energy into halftime to the tune of a roaring, senior-filled student section cheering on their team just days before graduation.
The Gamecocks, 7-4, made a late push in the final minutes. South Carolina’s Kobe Knox and Mike Sharavjamts each scored 13 points in an attempt to rally their team back into contention, but Clemson held steady until the final buzzer sounded.
The Tigers’ defense proved to be the difference, holding South Carolina to under 40% shooting and forcing 14 turnovers. Clemson also commanded the paint, limiting second-chance opportunities and keeping momentum on the Tigers’ side.
The win marked Clemson’s second rivalry victory over South Carolina this academic year and added another statement performance at Littlejohn Coliseum.
Clemson will now turn its attention to its next nonconference test in the Greenville Winter Invitational, where the Tigers are set to take on Cincinnati on Sunday at 3 p.m. The matchup will serve as another early-season measuring stick as Clemson looks to build momentum while adjusting its rotation following Foster’s season-ending injury.
