Clemson Holds Basketball Scrimmage

Oct. 24, 2003

Clemson, SC – Olu Babalola scored 13 points to lead five double figure scorers in a 30-minute Clemson basketball scrimmage on Friday night at Littlejohn Coliseum. The Orange and White teams played to a 45-45 tie. There was no overtime as Head Coach Oliver Purnell called the scrimmage at the end of regulation. It was the first public scrimmage for the first-year head coach, who has had his team practicing since last Saturday.

Babalola connected on 5-8 shots from the field and scored the 13 points while playing all 30 minutes. The junior also contributed three rebounds and four assists. Chey Christie, Clemson’s top returning scorer from a year ago, added 12 points on four field goals and four free throws.

Junior college transfer Lamar Rice and red-shirt sophomore forward Steve Allen, joined returning starting center Sharrod Ford as double figure scorers in the scrimmage.

Allen, who has not played in a game since the 2001-02 season, had a solid game with 12 points on 5-9 hooting and pulled in seven rebounds. Rice, who sat out last year after transferring from Mott Community College in Michigan, added 11 points and six rebounds. Fordhad 10 points and a game high tying eight rebounds.

Chris Hobbs and Shawan Robinson added nine points apiece in the balanced effort, while Akin Akingbala had six points and eight rebounds. Freshman Vernon Hamilton, scored five points, had five rebounds and five assists against just one turnover. Sophomore Julian Betko missed scrimmage after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery on Thursday. He will be out two to four weeks.

The Tigers will open their exhibition season against NIKE Elite on November 7 at 7:000 PM at Littlejohn Coliseum. The contest will be held the Friday night prior to the Clemson vs. Florida State football game.

Clemson Scrimmage At Littlejohn Coliseum

October 24, 2003

Players played for both teams throughout the 30-minute scrimmage

Player FG 3FG FT O-Rb PF TP A-T B-S

Larmar Rice 4-9 1-3 2-2 2-6 1 11 2-2 0-1

Vernon Hamilton 2-8 0-1 1-4 2-5 1 5 5-1 0-2

Steve Allen 5-9 0-0 2-2 3-7 3 12 0-2 0-1

Jimmy Hudson 0-10 0-4 3-4 0-0 4 3 2-5 0-4

Akin Akingbala 3-6 0-0 0-1 3-8 5 6 2-1 1-2

Beau Shay 0-1 0-0 0-0 0-1 1 0 1-0 0-1

Olu Babalola 5-8 1-2 2-2 0-3 1 13 4-4 1-2

Reed Long 0-1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0-0 0-0