Clemson Defeats Florida Atlantic In Puerto Rico, 94-81

Dec. 20, 2000

BAYAMON, Puerto Rico (AP) – Will Solomon scored 24 points, including six in Clemson’s 15-0 run in the second half, and the Tigers beat Florida Atlantic 94-81 Wednesday in the opening round of the Puerto Rico Holiday Classic.

Clemson (7-2) will play No. 22 Cincinnati in Thursday’s semifinals. The Bearcats beat Youngstown State 74-65 Wednesday in the opening round.

Pasha Bains had 20 points for Clemson, including a four-point play that capped the run that gave the Tigers a 68-49 lead with 12:47 to play.

Florida Atlantic (2-8) was within 53-49 on a drive by Jeff Cowans with 17:16 to play.

Clemson then went on the big run, with Solomon making a three-point play followed by a 3-pointer to make it 64-49. Bains then scored on a rebound of a missed 3 by Solomon and was fouled. He rebounded his missed free throw to cap the run and make it 68-49.

The Tigers led 81-60 with 7:54 left when freshman guard Tyler Zornes, who had played a total of 53 minutes and scored 16 points this season, went on a 3-point binge for the Owls. He scored all but two of Florida Atlantic’s points, including four 3-pointers, in a 14-4 run that had the Owls within 85-74 with 4:10 left, but that was as close as they got in losing their third straight.

Adam Allenspach had 13 points and 13 rebounds for the Tigers, who finished with a 45-37 advantage on the boards.

Pierre Downing led Florida Atlantic with 23 points, 18 in the first half.