Clemson vs. Boston College Post-Game Notes

Jan. 20, 2007

Clemson had a 24-4 advantage in points off turnovers today, itslargest margin in that category in a game all year. The previoushigh was a 19-point margin in points off turnovers in the win overGeorgia (29-10). Clemson has now won the points off turnover statin 15 straight games and has lost that stat just once in 20 gamesthis year. Clemson defeated a Boston College team that was 5-0 inthe ACC this year and had won 16 of its last 18 ACC games headinginto today. Clemson’s bench was out-scored by 14 points (9-23) inthe loss to North Carolina on Wednesday evening, but Clemson’sbench had a 14-point advantage (15-1) in today’s win over BostonCollege. Clemson shot 50.8 percent from the field today, just thesecond team this year to shoot over 50 percent from the fieldagainst the Eagles. Northeastern (32-61 for .524) is the only otheropponent to exceed 50 percent against the Eagles defense this year.Clemson had a +13 turnover margin today, as the Tigers forced 21and committed just eight. It marked the third time in the last fiveACC games that Clemson has committed exactly eight turnovers onoffense. Clemson is now 18-2, just the second time in schoolhistory the Tigers have been 18-2 to open the season. The 1986-87team is the only other Clemson team to win 18 of its first 20games. Today was Clemson’s fourth win in the month of January(4-2). This is the first time Clemson has won four games in Januarysince 1997 when the Tigers were 6-2 that month under Rick Barnes.Clemson has a 4-2 record in the ACC, its best start since theTigers were 5-1 for the first six ACC games in 1996-97. CliffHammonds made a career high tying five three-point goals in today’sgame, including four in the first half. It marked the fourth timethat Hammonds had made five three-point goals in a game, the firsttime since a win over East Tennessee State last year. It was thebest three-point goal percentage of his career (.833 on 5-6).Hammonds is now 8-12 in his career from three-point range againstBoston College. With his five three-point goals today, Hammonds nowhas 146 for his career, tied for sixth in Clemson history withAndrius Jurkunas (1995-99). Hammonds improved on his ACC bestassist/turnover ratio in today’s game with a 5/1 ratio. He now hasa 74 assists and 27 turnovers this year, a league best 2.74/1figure. Point guard Vernon Hamilton had two steals today and is nowtied for 11th in ACC history in that category with Duke’s ChristianLaettner. Laettner and Hamilton both have 243 career steals, butHamilton has played in 37 less games. Boston College shot just 7-20from the field in the second half against the Tigers. It was thebest field goal percentage defense in a half for the Tigers sincethe first half of the Georgia State game on December 31 when thePanthers made just .308 of its field goal attempts in the firsthalf. Sam Perry scored nine points, all in the second half oftoday’s game. That included a three-point goal, he fourth of hiscareer. He is now 4-10 on three-point shots this year with threemade over the last four games.