Clemson Falls To Washington

Dec. 22, 2000

BAYAMON, Puerto Rico (AP) – Michael Johnson hit a 10-foot turnaround jumper in the lane as time expired to give Washington a 77-76 overtime victory over Clemson on Friday in the third-place game of the Puerto Rico Holiday Classic.

Johnson, who finished with 12 points including a big 3-pointer in the final minute of regulation, got the ball to the left of the lane with about four seconds left. He started across the lane and looked like he was about to loose the ball when he turned and nailed the game-winning shot.

Will Perkins, who missed the first two games of the tournament because of a virus, led the Huskies (6-4) with 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Thalo Green added 18 points, half from 3-point range.

Will Solomon, who had 33 points for Clemson (7-4) in its semifinal loss to No. 22 Cincinnati, finished with 26 against Washington but the junior guard didn’t score in the overtime, missing four shots, including three 3-pointers.

Solomon hit a 3 – he was 5-for-10 from beyond the arc – to cap a 12-0 run that got Clemson within 58-55 with 7:47 to play. Green then hit a short jumper 45 seconds later – Washington’s first field goal in 6:41.

Clemson’s first lead since late in the first half came with 4:45 to play on two free throws by Solomon that made it 63-62.

Johnson hit his only 3-pointer in three attempts with 50 seconds left to give the Huskies a 69-68 lead. Solomon scored a drive with 30 seconds to play to make it 70-69 and the Huskies tied it with four seconds left when Ben Coffee made the second of two free throws.

Tony Stockman of Clemson got a 3-pointer off at the buzzer but it bounced off the rim.

Clemson had two three-point leads in the overtime, the second at 76-73 on two free throws by Adam Allenspach, who had 17 points, with 1:59 to play.

Green, who had a career-high 20 points in the opening round and 15 in the semifinal loss to No. 17 Alabama, scored down low with 1:40 left to bring the Huskies within one.

Clemson missed three shots on its next possession, including a 3 by Solomon, who was 9-for-17 from the field and 5-for-10 on 3-point attempts. Coffee missed a 3-pointer with 25 seconds left but the long rebound went out of bounds off Clemson with 20 seconds to go.

After a timeout, Washington held the ball until there were about 10 seconds left then started the final play that ended with Johnson being swarmed by his teammates on the court.