Final Stats
GREENVILLE, S.C. – Dillon Hunter (Atlanta, Ga./Westlake) and RJ Godfrey (Suwanee, Ga./North Gwinnett/Georgia) combined for Clemson University men’s basketball’s final 12 points to help seal the 68-65 victory over Cincinnati in Greenville, S.C. at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on Sunday afternoon.
The Tigers (10-3) finish non-conference play with three-straight victories over Mercer, South Carolina and Cincinnati. Clemson boasted six double-figure scorers in the game, including 10 each from Godfrey and Hunter.
Carter Welling (Draper, Utah/Corner Canyon/Utah Valley) and Ace Buckner (Dallas, Texas/La Lumiere School (Ind.) led the Tigers with 12 points each. Buckner scored nine of his 12 points in the second half to help keep Clemson in the lead.
Clemson jumped out to 23-3 lead nearly midway through the opening stanza and led by as many as 27 at 38-11 with three minutes to go in the first half.
The Bearcats finished the half on a 7-0 run and began the second half on 15-4 run for an 18-point swing in the contest. Cincinnati closed to one point twice in the last 40 seconds in regulation, but Hunter helped ice the game finishing 4-for-4 at the free throw line down the stretch.
Jestin Porter (Houston, Texas/Cypress Ridge/Middle Tennessee State) (11) and Nick Davidson (Mission Viejo, Calif./Mater Dei) (10) rounded out the double-digit scorers for Clemson.
For the first time this season, the Tigers bench was outscored (23-22) by their opponent. Clemson committed just two turnovers in the first half, but 11 in the second half, aiding to Cincinnati’s comeback efforts.
Clemson will have a break before it starts Atlantic Coast Conference play on Wednesday, Dec. 31 at Syracuse. That game is set for 2 p.m. on ESPN2.
Notes: Clemson improved to 10-3 with the win and 2-4 all-time against Cincinnati … Head Coach Brad Brownell won his 302nd game at Clemson and the 469th of his career … Ace Buckner produced his second consecutive double-digit scoring game of the season and fifth overall this year … Dillon Hunter tied his career-high with seven rebounds … Nick Davidson made a season-high two 3-pointers … RJ Godfrey’s 10-point performance was his ninth double-digit scoring game of the season … Clemson finished 10-for-20 from three (50.0 percent) a new season-high percentage from beyond the arc … the Tigers are now 2-0 this season when shooting over 40.0 percent from three and 120-27 under Coach Brownell when shooting over 40.0 percent.
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