The Chanticleers improved to 4-5 with the win, while the Tigers
fell to 6-4 with the loss. The 23-point margin was the worst defeat in 75 games
under current Head Coach Brad Brownell.
Clemson struggled on both ends of the floor. The Tigers shot just 32 percent from
the floor, including 4-of-21 (.190) from three. Clemson had a season-high 18
turnovers as well, which led to 20 points for the Chanticleers. Coastal,
conversely, shot 46 percent for the game and made 9-of-23 from deep, 39 percent.
The Chanticleers owned a +7 advantage on the boards after trailing by two caroms at
halftime.
Devin Booker had a solid scoring night, producing 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting.
Booker added a team-high seven rebounds in 34 minutes. Clemson’s only other player
in double figures was freshman Jordan Roper, who posted 12 to give him double digits
for a second straight game. Anthony Raffa, who had 21 last season as Coastal
defeated Clemson at the buzzer, scored 25 in Wednesday’s contest. Warren Gillis
added 12 for the Chants.
Coastal, playing for only the second time over the past 13 days, came out with great
energy and made its first four field goals en route to a 10-2 lead. Clemson
answered with senior leadership in the form of Booker, who scored eight consecutive
points for the Tigers at one point to tie the game at 10. After Coastal went back
ahead 14-10, K.J. McDaniels scored five in a 7-0 run to put Clemson in front 17-14.
But, the Chanticleers had an answer as it put together its own 7-0 run, capped by a
Warren Gillis three and driving layup from Raffa.
The lead stretched to as high as 10 on an up-and-under move in the paint by Kierre
Greenwood, but Clemson was able to get a tip-in as the halftime buzzer sounded from
Booker to make it a 27-19 deficit at the break.
Clemson amped up its defensive intensity to start the second half and quickly cut
the lead to five on a steal and jam by McDaniels. Another dunk off a fastbreak
moments later by Jordan Roper and a three by Milton Jennings cut the lead to four at
35-31. As they did all game, Coastal answered on a three by Gillis on a
penetrate-and-pitch from Raffa. Badou Diagne then hit one uncontested to push the
lead to 10 once again at 41-31.
Roper cut the lead to six on a pair of free throws at the 10:19 mark, but Coastal
used a 19-4 run to pull away to the victory. Clemson’s defense struggled
dramatically down the stretch, yielding 25 points inside the final 10 minutes of the
second half.
The Tigers return to action at home on Sunday, Dec. 23 to take on SC State. The
game – Clemson’s last one before Christmas break – will tip off at 2:00 PM from
Littlejohn Coliseum.
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