11th-Ranked Clemson to Play Host to Alabama Tuesday Night at Littlejohn Coliseum

Jan. 5, 2009

Game Setup Site: Littlejohn Coliseum (10,000) Date: Tuesday, January 6, 2009 City: Clemson, SC Time: 9:00 PM TV: Fox Sports (Bob Rathbun, Dan Bonner) Radio: Clemson Tiger Radio Network (Pete Yanity, Tim Bourret) Rankings: Clemson – #11 in ESPN/USA Today, #12 by Associated Press

Series History Overall: Clemson leads 4-3 at Clemson: Clemson leads 1-0 at Littlejohn: Clemson leads 1-0 at Alabama: Clemson leads 2-0 at Neutral: Alabama leads 3-1 First Meeting: Alabama 33, Clemson 22 in 1929-30 (at Atlanta, GA) Last Meeting: Clemson 87, Alabama 61 at Alabama, 1-1-08

Quick Facts The Tigers moved up to #11 in the ESPN/USA Today coaches’ poll and #12 by AP on January 5. It is Clemson’s highest ranking in either poll since Nov. 16, 1997 when Clemson was ranked fifth in the AP poll and seven in USA Today.

Clemson has won eight of its last nine games against SEC teams, including a 98-87 win over South Carolina on December 30. Clemson is 11-4 under Oliver Purnell against SEC teams.

Clemson defeated Alabama last year in Tuscaloosa by an 87-61 score. It was Clemson’s largest victory margin in an SEC team’s homecourt in history.

Clemson is coming off a 79-66 win over East Carolina. Clemson had a 17/6 assist/turnover ratio in that game. The six turnovers were the fewest by a Clemson team under Oliver Purnell.

K.C. Rivers needs just 19 points to move into the top 10 in Clemson history. He has 1445 career points, 18 below the total accumulated by Tree Rollins from 1973-77. Rivers also needs just four three-point goals to move into second place in Clemson history.

Trevor Booker leads the ACC in field goal percentage, defensive rebounds and blocked shots per game.

Jerai Grant is coming off a career high 14 points against East Carolina. That performance included 6-7 free throw shooting and six rebounds in just 18 minutes. He is 31-38 from the field so far this year.

The Tigers are 14-0 for the second time in the last three seasons. In 2006-07, Clemson was the nation’s last remaining unbeaten team at 17-0. This year, the Tigers are one of only four undefeated teams remaining in Division I.

Clemson has won 14 consecutive home games. If Clemson defeats Alabama it would give Clemson 15 in a row and the longest home winning streak for the Clemson program since the 1989-90 era.

Clemson has overcome five deficits of eight or more points to earn victory this season. In fact, the Tigers have come from at least 10 down on three occasions,. Against Miami, the Tigers rallied from 12 down and versus South Carolina, Clemson overcame an early 11-point disadvantage.

Rivers has played in 82 victories during his career at Clemson. Only Elden Campbell (1986-90) and Cliff Hammonds (2004-08) played in more (84).

Terrence Oglesby ranks third in school history with 2.62 three-point goals per game. He has 125 made three-pointers in his career, 11th best in school history.

Clemson has 17 regular season games remaining and all 17 will be on live television.