Clemson vs. Hofstra Post-Game Notes

Nov. 15, 2008

* Clemson scored 98 points in its season opener, the highest point total for the Tiger basketball program in the first game of a season since the 2004-05 team defeated Hampton by a score of 98-54 at home.

* With the win over Hofstra, the Tigers have now won 20 consecutive games in the month of November. Clemson was 5-0 in November of 2005, then 8-0 in 2006, and 6-0 last season. Clemson has an all-time record of 88-15 in games played in November.

* Clemson advances to the winners bracket of the Charleston Classic and will take on TCU, a team that defeated Western Michigan 67-63 in the first game of the tournament. The Tigers and Horned Frogs have met just once on the hardwood. Clemson defeated TCU by a score of 125-62 on Nov. 26, 1977 at the IPTAY Tournament. The Tigers forced 35 turnovers in that meeting.

* The 1977 win over TCU was the fourth-largest victory margin for Clemson in men’s basketball. The 125-point total was the third-best in school history as well.

* The Tigers responded to a 3-0 deficit by scoring the next 15 points of the game. It marked the second straight season opener in which Clemson had at least a 15-0 run. Clemson had a 26-0 run last year in the home opening victory over Furman.

* With the three-point line moved back one foot for the 2008-09 season, the Tigers did not shy away from taking the perimeter shot. Clemson made 9-of-17 for the game, a 52.9 percent clip.

* Clemson had a fine defensive performance in the season opener, holding Hofstra to 31.8 percent shooting for the game. The Tigers added eight steals, seven blocked shots, and five charges taken.

* The Tigers featured a balanced lineup on Friday, as 12 of the 14 players on the roster scored. Five players reached double figures, led by Trevor Booker’s 16 points, while a pair of players had nine points in the game.

* Clemson sank 18-of-24 free throws in the second half of Friday’s ballgame, a 75 percent mark. The Tigers overcame a slow start from the charity stripe, where Clemson hit just 7-15 in the opening half.

* Trevor Booker’s recorded his 11th career double-double in the season opener. Booker led the team in both points (16) and rebounds (13) on Friday. He sank 7-11 field goals on the night.

* Booker made his sixth career three-point goal in Friday’s contest. He made all five of his previous three-point goals in a three-game stretch in January of the 2007-08 season.

* Terrence Oglesby hit 3-4 three-point goals and 4-5 free throws and finished the opener with 15 points. He also tied a career-high with three steals.

* Raymond Sykes earned his 11th career starting assignment and responded with a solid debut as the Tigers’ starting center this season. The Jacksonville, FL native posted 13 points on 5-8 shooting and added seven rebounds as well.

* Tanner Smith was one of three first-year freshmen to play in Friday’s opener. The Alpharetta, GA native scored 11 points in his collegiate debut. He made 3-5 field goals and 4-4 free throws. Smith added four rebounds, two steals, and also took a charge in 19 active minutes.