Box Score
CLEMSON, S.C. — Elijah Thomas posted his 13th career double-double in just 26 minutes of action with 17 points and 12 rebounds to help energize Clemson University men’s basketball to a 65-60 win over Saint Peter’s on Tuesday night.
Thomas has manufactured 12 double-doubles in a Clemson uniform and the team is 10-2 overall in those games.
The Tigers (6-2) were led offensively by Marcquise Reed’s game-high 21 points in a game-high 38 minutes. Reed finished 9-for-11 at the free throw line. Shelton Mitchell also finished in double-figures with 15 points.
Clemson got off to a quick start behind Reed, who opened the game with six-straight points, but would be toe-to-toe with the Peacocks (2-6) and tied 28-28 after the opening stanza.
Both teams traded blows in the second half, but the key bucket didn’t come until there was 39 seconds left in regulation. With a 59-58 lead, Clyde Trapp drove to the middle of the point and strong-armed a right-handed banked-in layup to push the Tigers’ lead to three. Four free throws from Thomas and Mitchell would seal the five-point victory.
The Peacocks finished 10-for-21 from long range, while the Tigers shot just 2-for-14 – a 30-6 point advantage for Saint Peter’s. However, Clemson finished 23-for-30 at the foul line and gritted out the victory.
The Tigers will return to the floor on Saturday, Dec. 8 in Newark, N.J. at Prudential Center for the 2018 Never Forget Tribute Classic. Clemson will face No. 22 Mississippi State at 4 p.m. on ESPN2.
Notes: Brad Brownell (155 wins at Clemson) is now just one win shy of tying Bill Foster for second all-time on the Clemson basketball win list … Elijah Thomas posted his 13th career double-double and his 12th as a Tiger … it’s his third double-double of the season after posting nine last year … Clemson is 10-2 in games in which Thomas records a double-double … Clyde Trapp recorded a career-high seven rebounds … Marcquise Reed collected his 29th 20-point game of his career … the Tigers moved to 5-1 this season when they boast at least one 20-point scorer … Trey Jemison earned his first minutes of his career – playing two off the bench in the first half … Jemison also recorded his first career rebound.
Photos by: Kim Montuoro and Carly Gough
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