WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Putting on perhaps its best defensive performance of the season, Clemson returned to action following a COVID-19 shutdown and throttled Wake Forest on Wednesday. Taking the court 12 days after their previous game, the Tigers showed no signs of rust defensively, defeating the Demon Deacons 60-39 at LJVM Coliseum.
The contest marked the 11th time in Head Coach Brad Brownell’s tenure that the Tigers held an opponent to under 40 points in a game. It also marked the 50th time a team has scored fewer than 50 during the same time period.
Clemson (14-5, 8-5) shot 43.5 percent from the field, but the story of the game was the dominance by the Tiger defense, as Wake Forest (6-12, 3-12) was limited to a 25.5 percent field goal percentage. Offensively, the Tigers knocked down seven 3-pointers, made 13-of-15 free throws and scored 24 points in the paint. In addition, Clemson won the rebounding battle 40-22 and tallied 23 points off the bench.
Speaking of bench production, Alex Hemenway served as Clemson’s leading scorer in the rout, collecting 17 points in a reserve role. He made 5-of-6 shots from beyond the arc and was 6-of-7 from the floor. Aamir Simms recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Nick Honor finished with 11 points and six assists. Hunter Tyson chipped in nine points to go along with his 10 boards. For Wake Forest, Daivien Williamson scored a team-high 16 points.
The Demon Deacons took a 3-0 lead, but the Tigers quickly rattled off seven straight points. Hemenway and Honor both hit from deep in the early goings, helping Clemson garner a 20-11 advantage. Soon afterward, a Hemenway triple from the top of the key placed the Tigers ahead by 10, and that point differential was stretched to 14 heading into halftime, with Clemson leading Wake Forest 29-15 at the break. On the Tigers’ final possession of the first half, Tyson threw down an emphatic dunk after receiving a pass from Honor. The 15 points scored by Wake Forest were its fewest in a single half since March 4, 2015, when the Demon Deacons scored 15 versus Duke.
At the 14:57 mark of the second half, Hemenway sank his third trey of the day, giving Clemson a 38-26 lead. A few possessions later, Honor corralled an offensive rebound and then scored on an up-and-under lay-in. The athletic layup kicked off a lopsided stretch that culminated in Clemson taking a commanding 55-32 lead with under four minutes remaining. The Tigers cruised to victory down the stretch and came away with an impressive 60-39 triumph.
With the win, this marks the first time since 1990 and just the third time since 1967 that Clemson has won its first four games in the month of February. The 39 points allowed represent the second-best scoring defense in an ACC road game in Clemson history. The Tigers gave up just 37 points to Georgia Tech on Feb. 21, 2012.
The Tigers will return home to Clemson, S.C., for their next matchup on Saturday, Feb. 27, when Clemson will host Miami (7-13, 3-12) at Littlejohn Coliseum. Earlier in the season, the Tigers defeated the Hurricanes 66-65 on the road. Saturday’s tilt is slated to tip off at 2 p.m. and air on a regional sports network (RSN).
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