Tigers’ Rally Falls Short

Jan. 15, 2000

Box Score | Play by Play | Notes| Quotes

By MARK PRATT Associated Press Writer

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) – Virginia, which led by as many as 22 in the second half, went 11-of-14 from the line in the final minute to thwart Clemson’s furious second-half rally and hang on for a 98-91 win Saturday.

The Cavaliers (11-5, 2-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) ended a four-game losing streak at Littlejohn Coliseum by overcoming a career performance by Clemson sophomore Will Solomon.

Solomon scored a career-high 43 points on 14-for-21 shooting. He was 8-for-12 on 3-pointers and 7-of-10 from the line. The eight 3-pointers was also a career high and tied the single-game school record.

The Cavaliers ended the first half with a 23-9 run to take a 50-32 halftime lead. They opened the second half with a 7-3 run to pull ahead by 22 with 16:50 to play.

Clemson switched to a zone defense in the second half and that unsettled the Cavaliers, who started taking outside shots.

Donald Hand, 6-of-6 from the line in the final minute, and Chris Williams led Virginia with 18 each.

Down 64-42, the Tigers (6-10, 0-4) got 3-pointers from Solomon and Pasha Bains in a 10-0 run to make it 64-52 with 11 minutes to play. The Tigers kept chipping away until Andrius Jurkunas’ 3-pointer with 3:32 left pulled the Tigers to within five, 79-74. Solomon’s drive through the lane and hook shot with just over a minute to play cut the Cavaliers lead to four, 87-83.

The Tigers extended the game by sending the Cavaliers to the line, but Virginia hit its free throws. There were 10 fouls within 23 seconds in the final minute.