Clemson Downs Aussie All-Stars 73-56

November 9, 1998

Clemson, SC–Clemson jumped out to a 23-0 lead in the first 12 and a half minutes of the game, and road balanced scoring to defeat the Aussie All Stars 73-56 Monday night at Littlejohn Coliseum. It was the second and final tuneup for the Tigers, who open the season Friday night against Arkansas Pine Bluff at Littlejohn Coliseum at 7:00 PM.

Freshman Will Solomon led the Tigers with 16 points, including 6-10 from the field and 3-6 on three-point shots. Vincent Whitt and Andrius Jurkunas had 10 apiece while Tom Wideman and Terrell McIntyre had nine apiece for the Tigers. Wideman was Clemson’s top rebounder with eight, while McIntyre led everyone in assists with seven against no turnovers. He now has 16 assists and one turnover in two exhibition games this year.

Harold Jamison started and scored six points and had for rebounds in 13 minutes. Jamison had missed the first exhibition game with a pulled hamstring. Tony Christie, a starting small forward and the ACC’s top three-point shooter among forwards last season, dressed for the game but did not play due to a bad back. He is expected to play in Clemson’s opener on Friday. Johnny Miller missed the game with a pulled calf muscle and is questionable for the opener.

Clemson shot 31-64 from the field, 48.4 percent and won the battle of the boards, 42-36. Vincent Whitt and Tom Wideman were Clemson’s top rebounders with eight. Clemson hit 8-17 three-point goals, including 2-2 by Jurkunas. The Aussie’s made 12 three-point goals but took 38 attempts.

Dominick Young was the top scorer in the game for the Aussie All Stars with 27 points, including 24 in the second half when he made six three-point goals. Damien Anderson added 11 points off the bench for the Aussie All-Stars, who play at Kentucky in their next game.

Clemson exploded in the first 10 mintues of the game. Tom Wideman keyed a 9-0 spurt in the opening three minutes with five points. Clemson extended the lead to 23-0 at the 7:26 mark on a rebound goal by Andrius Jurkunas. The Aussie’s missed their first 15 shots of the game and finally scored at the 7:09 mark of the first half on a three-point goal by Anderson. Clemson held a 34-13 lead at intermission.

The Aussie’s got back in the game behind Young in the first 10 minutes of the second half. They cut the lead to 49-37 at the 9:29 mark of the second half when Derrick Boles hit a pair of free throws. Young scored 15 points in the Aussie’s first 22 of the second half to key the spurt.

Clemson then went on a 9-0 spurt in a two-minute run to put the game away. The Tigers led 58-37 on a three-point shot by Jurkunas with 7:14 left. Clemson expanded the lead to 23 points at 63-40 with 4:23 left.