Clemson Downs Francis Marion, 99-51

Nov. 6, 2009

CLEMSON, SC – Freshman Noel Johnson scored 19 points in just 21 minutes off the bench, and starting guard Tanner Smith added 16 in just 18 minutes to lead Clemson to a 99-51 exhibition basketball victory over Francis Marion on Friday, Nov. 6 at Littlejohn Coliseum.

David Potter was the only other double figure scorer for the Tigers with 10 points, but Trevor Booker, Andre Young and Andre Young, who had five. Young also led all Tigers in assists with six.

The big story of the night for Clemson might have been three-point shooting. The Tigers lost two of the top six three-point shooters in school history from last year, as K.C. Rivers, first in school history with 281, graduated, and Terrence Oglesby, sixth with 177, turned professional.

But four different Clemson players made three three-point goals and the Tigers connected on 14-27 overall. Had it been a regular season game, the 14 threes would have tied for seventh-best in Clemson history for a single game. Johnson (3-6), Smith (3-5), Potter (3-6), and Young (3-5) combined for 12 of the 14 three-point makes. Jennings and Hill also scored from long range for the Tigers, who made nine three-point goals in the first half.

Clemson won the rebounding by a 39-36 margin. The Tigers defense had 11 blocks, led by four from Jerai Grant, and 22 steals, and held Francis Marion to 34.5 percent shooting and a 10/34 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Booker, a preseason ACC Player-of-the-Year candidate, had nine points, six rebounds, two blocks and two steals in his 22 minutes of work.

Clemson’s four freshmen (Johnson, Jennings, Hill and Devin Booker) combined for 38 points on 14-22 shooting.

Clemson jumped out to a 57-26 lead at intermission and never looked back. Head Coach Oliver Purnell played 14 players and 12 of them scored. No Tiger played more than 22 minutes in the game that was played before a crowd of 5,000.

Kaylan Anderson led Francis Marion with 20 points on 6-7 shooting from the field. He was the only player in double figures for the Patriots.