Clemson Downs California All-Stars, 83-76

Nov. 2, 2000

Clemson, S.C. – Clemson, S.C. – Sophomore forward Pasha Bains scored 29 points and All-ACC guard Will Solomon added 20 Thursday night, leading Clemson to an 83-76 exhibition basketball victory over the California All-Stars at Littlejohn Coliseum. It was the first of two exhibition games for the Tigers, who will play host to an all-star team from Lithuania next Thursday.

The California All-Stars fell to 0-2. They had lost to Kansas in Lawrence on Wednesday night. The California All-Stars were led by former Georgia Tech star Drew Barry, who scored 17 points, all in the second half. Former North Carolina point guard Ed Cota added 13. Kevin Simmons had 14 points and 13 rebounds, while Nick Shepard added 14 points.

Adam Allenspach, Clemson’s only senior, added 11 points and 12 rebounds in just 23 minutes for the Tigers. Clemson had just 13 turnovers and dealt out 16 assists as a team. The Tiger defense forced 19 steals and had 10 steals.

Bains was in a zone from three-point range, especially in the second half. The native of Canada who shot just 26 percent on three-point goals last year, made 7-10 from long range for the game, including one streak of six three-point goals in succession. He made his first seven shots of the second half, including five three-point goals.

Solomon made 7-15 shots from the field, including an outstanding 5-7 on three-point shots. Clemson made 14-26 three-point goals on the evening, a shooting performance that would be among the best in school history had it been a regular season game.

Clemson never trailed in the game. The Tigers jumped out to an 8-2 lead in the first three minutes behind two field goals by Bains, one a two and one a three. Both teams struggled offensively in the early going. Clemson made just 3 of its first 13, while the California All-Stars made just 1-8 and 6-21 to open the game.

Clemson extended the lead to 15 at intermission, 40-25, thanks to a 6-8 shooting effort to close the half. Six different Tigers made field goals during that stretch. Clemson won the rebounding 24-17 in the first half.

Both teams were outstanding offensively to open the second half. Clemson made 5 of its first 8 field goals, and had an 18-point lead with 17 minutes left. But, the All-Stars came back behind the shooting of Barry. The former NBA player failed to score in the first half, missing five three-point efforts. But, he made four straight threes to bring California all the way back. He made three consecutive three pointers to cut Clemson’s lead to 68-67 with 3:25 left.

But, that was as close at the All-Stars got. Down the stretch, Bains nailed a pair of three pointers, and Adam Allenspach made a field goal and a free thow to put Clemson up by seven points. Clemson made 7-9 free throws down the stretch. Barry hit a three-point goal at the buzzer to cut the margin to seven points.