Men’s Basketball Beats Central Florida, 54-48

Nov. 26, 1999

GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) – Chucky Gilmore blocked two shots and grabbed two big rebounds in the final two minutes to help Clemson hang on for a 54-48 victory Friday over Central Florida in the SoCon Holiday Hoops Tournament.

The Tigers (2-1) led by as many as 12 in the second half, but poor shooting and turnovers allowed the Knights (0-3) to climb back into it.

With Clemson clinging to a 52-48 lead, Gilmore made two quick blocks and grabbed a rebound with less than a minute to play. He only had four points, but grabbed eight rebounds.

The Knights pulled to within two, 50-48, on Paul Reed’s layup with 4:35 to play, but Central Florida did not score again.

The Tigers opened the second half with a 10-3 run to take a commanding 12-point lead with just under 15 minutes to play.

But the Knights got back into it with the help of some 3-point shooting, as well as sloppy play and poor free-throw shooting by the Tigers. Clemson was 7-for-15 in the game.

Inyo Cue, D’Quarius Stewart and Jason Thornton all hit 3-pointers in a 19-9 Central Florida run that trimmed Clemson’s lead to 48-46 with 6:15 to play.

Central Florida also turned up the defense in the run, forcing bad shots and turnovers. Will Solomon, who had 11 points for Clemson in the first half, was held to just four in the second half.

Clemson led 29-24 at halftime. After an early 2-2 tie the Tigers led for the entire half but couldn’t put the Knights away and never led by more than eight. Adam Allenspach and Solomon had four points each in a 9-3 run that gave Clemson a 22-14 lead, but the Knights got a free throw from Davin Granberry and Stewart hit a 3-pointer to make it 22-18.

Solomon had 11 at the half for Clemson and Allenspach added eight.

Stewart led the Knights at the half with eight and Jason Thornton had seven. Thornton led all scorers with 16.

Both teams struggled from the free throw line in the half. Clemson was 1-of-6 while Central Florida went 3-for-8.

Clemson got a scare late in the game when Allenspach hurt his right knee diving for a loose ball. He left the court without help and returned later in the game.