Clemson Edged by Miami On Road, 75-72

Jan. 27, 2008

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) – Jack McClinton scored 16 points, including three dramatic 3-pointers, as Miami defeated Clemson 75-72 on Sunday.

The victory snapped a three-game losing streak for the Hurricanes (15-4, 2-3). McClinton hit three consecutive 3-pointers over a 1:23 span late as Miami rallied from a six-point deficit. McClinton’s third 3-pointer with 1:07 left gave the Hurricanes the lead for good, 66-65.

Lance Hurdle converted two free throws with 50.5 and 31.7 left, increasing Miami’s lead to 70-65. After Brian Asbury and Demontez Stitt traded free throws with 26.6 and 25.3 left respectively, Stitt’s field goal with 16.3 remaining cut Miami’s advantage to 72-69. But Asbury secured the victory with two free throws with 14.6 left.

Stitt led the Tigers (15-5, 3-3) with 15 points, while James Mays finished with 14. Dwayne Collins led Miami with 18 points.

Clemson trailed during nearly the entire first half, but overcame a 12-point deficit with an 18-4 spurt late. Raymond Sykes’ field goal with 3:19 remaining capped the run and gave the Tigers a 30-29 lead, their first since a 1-0 advantage on K.C. Rivers’ free throw 24 seconds into the game.

Rivers’ third consecutive 3-pointer tied the game 35-35 with 47 seconds remaining in the half before Brian Asbury converted on two free throws with 14 seconds left, giving Miami a 37-35 halftime lead.

Clemson had a strong start in the opening minutes of the second half. Cliff Hammonds’ field goal with 6:34 remaining in the second half gave the Tigers a 59-53 lead.

James Mays scored two field goals and Hammonds and Terrence Oglesby each hit 3-pointers during a 10-0 run as Clemson built a 49-45 lead with 5:22 remaining in the second half. But the Tiger’s couldn’t hold on to it.