Thompson’s and Lelevicius’ 21-point nights lead Clemson over North Dakota
CLEMSON, S.C. – Chase Thompson (Glenwood, Minn./Alexandria Area) turned in a career-best 21 points in Clemson University men’s basketball’s 92-77 victory over North Dakota on Monday night in Littlejohn Coliseum.
Thompson scored his 21 points on 9-for-10 shooting from the floor, including a perfect 3-for-3 from distance. It’s the best percentage by a non-center under Head Coach Brad Brownell in a single game.
The sophomore added five rebounds, one steal and one block.
Clemson battled back in the second half after trailing 40-38 after the opening stanza behind Liutauras Lelevicius’ (Kaunas, Lithuania) 21 points and team-leading eight rebounds. Lelevicius has 18 rebounds through two games, the most he has had through two games in his career is 15 (March 1-8, 2025).
With the scoring efforts from Thompson and Lelevicius, it marked the first time since Feb. 4, 2025 that Clemson produced two 20-point scorers in the same game (Chase Hunter 28, Ian Schieffelin 23).
With the Fighting Hawks leading 46-43 in the second period, the Tigers used an 8-0 run to lead 51-46 with 14:35 remaining. North Dakota would later tie the game again at 55-55, but with the score 61-60 and 8:24 remaining, Clemson would outscore North Dakota 31-17 the rest of the way.
Dallas Thomas (Little Rock, Ark./Parkview Magnet) recorded a new career high of nine points, knocking out two 3-pointers and grabbing five rebounds.
Dylan Faulkner (Calhoun, Ga./Calhoun) tied a season-high with two blocks and led the Tigers in assists with eight while pouring in 12 points. The assists were a career-best for Faulkner. Ace Buckner (Dallas, Texas/La Lumiere School (Ind.) recorded 12 of his 13 points in the second half to secure his third consecutive double-digit outing of the season and also added six assists.
Clemson assisted on 20 of its 31 made baskets, however, North Dakota netted 18 points on 12 Tiger turnovers.
The Tigers return to Littlejohn Coliseum to host Georgetown on Friday, November 13 at 6 p.m. The game will air on ESPNU.
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Notes: Clemson improved to 3-0 on the season … the Tigers won their 101st game since the start of the 2022-23 season (101-41) … Clemson improved to 1-0 all-time against North Dakota and 2-0 all-time against the Summit League … Head Coach Brad Brownell won his 319th game at Clemson and his 486th game in his career … Clemson moved to 292-100 in games they shoot 40.0 percent or better from three … the Tigers are 127-27 under Brownell and 45-2 over the last four-plus seasons when shooting 40.0 percent or better … Chase Thompson scored a career-high 21 points on a career-best nine field goals and three 3-pointers … it was Thompson’s first career start … Liutauras Lelevicius scored a season-high 21 points on 5-7 shooting, including 2-4 from three and career-best 9-9 from the free throw line … Lelevicius’ 18 rebounds over the last two games is the most in a two-game stretch in his career … Cole Certa’s streak of 10+ point games came to an end with seven points … Certa added four more assists and now has 10 assists through three games for the Tigers after just 31 in 49 games at Notre Dame … Dylan Faulkner totaled a career-high eight assists … Dallas Thomas notched a career-high nine points on a career-high two 3-pointers … with the scoring efforts from Thompson and Lelevicius, it marked the first time since Feb. 4, 2025 that Clemson produced two 20-point scorers in the same game (Chase Hunter 28, Ian Schieffelin 23).