Clemson Men’s Basketball To Face Winthrop

Dec. 5, 2000

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Clemson vs. Winthrop Tonight’s game is the sixth meeting between Clemson and Winthrop. The Tigers improved to a perfect 5-0 in the previous meetings against the Eagles with a 64-59 win last year, the closest contest ever played between the schools. The most lop-sided Clemson win is a 100-55 decision in the first-ever meeting in 1985. The Tigers are 4-0 vs. Winthrop at Littlejohn Coliseum.

About Winthrop Winthrop is 4-3 on the season after winning a 73-58 decision vs. Georgia Southern Sunday night in Rock Hill. The Eagles nearly spoiled the debut of new North Carolina head coach Matt Doherty, losing 66-61 on Nov. 10. Winthrop then lost to Arizona State before rattling off three straight wins over Belmont Abbey, Campbell and William & Mary. The Eagles also have a loss at Nebraska. Roger Toxey leads the Eagles in scoring with 10.7 points per game. Marcus Stewart is also in double figures with a 10.6 average. Stewart is also the team’s top rebounder with 6.6 rebounds per game.

Last Year vs. the Eagles Clemson won its second consecutive game on Dec. 18 with a 64-59 win over Winthrop. Will Solomon scored 22 points, including five three-point goals, while Adam Allenspach added a double-double (14 points and 10 rebounds).

The Tigers offset the shooting of the Winthrop backcourt: Tyson Waterman and Roger Toxey. That duo combined for 27 points on nine three-point goals in the first half. But, Clemson’s defense held them to just three second-half field goals.

The game started off as a scoring binge. Both teams made at least 7 of its first 10 shots and 9-14 from the field. Andrius Jurkunas had six assists on Clemson’ first seven field goals in just nine minutes, establishing a career high in that category for the Tiger senior.

Solomon and Edward Scott connected on six three-point goals in the first half and the score was tied 37-37 at intermission. Both team’s defenses stiffened in the second half. Clemson was just 7-22 from the field, but Winthrop made just 7-24. Coach Larry Shyatt put Will Solomon on Waterman and the Eagle senior scored just three foul shots and was 0-6 from the field in the second half.

Clemson had a 59-50 lead with 4:28 left on two free throws by Adam Allenspach. Winthrop came back and cut the lead to 61-59. But, the Tigers shutout Winthrop the rest of the way and Andrius Jurkunas made two free throws with 2.9 seconds left to ice the game.

Clemson made just 39 percent of its shots for the game, but made 73 percent from the line. After making 54 percent from the field in the first half, Winthrop made just 29 percent in the second half and ended the game with a 42 percent mark. Clemson won the rebound battle for the ninth time in 10 games, 33-30. The Tigers committed just 11 turnovers, a big improvement from 25 turnovers against South Carolina.

Clemson Beats Western Carolina Junior transfer Jamar McKnight played his first game at Clemson and put in 12 points to equal Will Solomon’s dozen points in leading the Tigers to an 87-52 victory over Western Carolina Saturday at Littlejohn Coliseum.

Clemson (4-1) finished the game with 24 assists, including seven by Edward Scott, and just 11 turnovers. The Tigers shot 43.7 percent from the field and held the Catamounts (1-5) to just 29.9 shooting (25.0 percent in the second half). Tony Stockman added 11 points.

Clemson sprinted out to a 19-9 lead and then scored 16 unanswered points on its way to a 49-28 lead at halftime. WCU never pulled closer than 19 points in the second half and Clemson pulled away down the stretch for the 35-point triumph.

Clemson’s bench scored 47 points as all 15 players on the roster saw action in the biggest victory of the Larry Shyatt era in Clemson. Thirteen players put points on the board and none played more than 28 minutes. In addition to McKnight, walkon Beau Shay scored his first point as a Tiger. He made one of two free throws in the final minute.

Western Carolina was led by forward Willie Freeman and guard Casey Rogers, who each scored 13 points. Corey Wells had nine rebounds for the Catamounts.

Shyatt Approaching Milestone Tuesday’s game is Larry Shyatt’s 99th game as a collegiate head coach. After coaching 28 games in one season at Wyoming, Shyatt has coached 70 games at Clemson. His 100th game will vs. South Carolina in Columbia on Saturday. Now in his fourth season, the fourth-year head coach is 53-45 overall. At Clemson, he is 34-36 in his third year.