Skara Tip-in Gives Tigers Victory

BARCELONA, Spain — David Skara scored on a put-back with 10.8 seconds remaining and Donte Grantham blocked a shot with 1.5 seconds remaining to give Clemson an 82-80 come-from-behind victory over the Mataro All-Stars Tuesday night in Barcelona.

Elijah Thomas had 16 points and 15 rebounds and Marcquise Reed added 15 points in just 21 minutes to pace the Tigers. Seniors Donte Grantham and Gabe DeVoe added 11 points and seven rebounds apiece for the Tigers who are now 3-0 on their trip to Spain.

“After we went to the zone, we got 14 straight stops,” said assistant coach Antonio Dean, who sat in the lead chair for the game. “We were able to get out in transition. It was good for us to face some adversity. The coaching staff is pleased how they responded.”

The Tigers took a four-hour bus ride from Valencia to Barcelona on Tuesday to reach the game site.

After two early ties, Mataro took the lead and held it until the Tigers put together a 16-0 run to take a 73-71 lead with 7:01 remaining in the game.

The Tigers led 80-75 with 2:45 left, but a 3-point basket tied the game at 80 with 1:16 to play before Skara’s bucket put the Tigers ahead for good.   Skara made 4-5 shots from the field, scored nine points, had six rebounds and four assists in 33 minutes in his best all-round game of the tour. Clemson won the fourth period 20-9 and held Mataro to 2-18 field goal shooting in that final quarter.

Mataro led 26-24 after the first quarter and 51-41 at the half. The All-Stars held a 7-0 advantage in made three-point goals in the first half.

Clemson cut the deficit to 54-50 less than three minutes into the third quarter, but Mataro responded with a 17-7 run for a 71-57 lead with 1:55 left in the third quarter.

Shelton Mitchell got his first action of the tour. The junior had four points in six minutes and made 2-3 shots from the field.

On Wednesday, the Tigers will tour the LaSagrada Familia, Barcelona’s unfinished cathedral.

On Thursday, Clemson will visit the 1992 Olympic venues and the home of the Barcelona soccer team. That night Clemson will play its final game of the Tour against the Barcelona All-Stars. The team will travel home on Friday, August 18.