CLEMSON,SC- After a Christmas break and a win over in-state rival South Carolina, the Tigers were back in action in Littlejohn against Lipscomb before the Tigers open up conference play at Duke on Saturday. Despite many fans who were on the way home from Saturdays Cotton Bowl in Dallas, fans turned out in numbers, ready to be loud and proud as they cheered the Tigers on to victory. First Half Although the beginning of the half was messy and the Tigers were faced with 10 team fouls, the Tigers got things rolling quickly. Marquise Reed led the Tigers with 14 point and 2 assists, Elijah Thomas led the team with 7 rebounds.
The Tigers were shooting at 49% making 17-35. The Tigers shot for 73% at the free throw line and were shooting at 36% for three-pointers. In the first half, Elijah Thomas became tied for 10th all-time in Clemson history with 126 career blocks in a Tiger uniform. The Tigers lead by 19 at the half. Second Half Coming out after halftime, the Bison were the ones who got the ball rolling quick as they scored 11 points on the Tigers within the first five minutes of the half. Marquise Reed once again led the team in scoring for this game as he accumulated 26 points today. Reed also led the team in assists with 5 and Elijah Thomas led the team with 5 rebounds. In the second half, the Tigers shot for 45% completing 29-64, shooting for 30% with three-pointers and 79% free throws. The Tigers defeated Lipscomb 84-67. The Tigers will travel to Durham, NC to take on the Duke Blue Devils Saturday.
Notes: Clemson won its third-straight game to finish the non-conference season at 10-3 … this marks the fourth time under head coach Brad Brownell that the Tigers have finished the non-conference slate with at least 10 victories … the Tigers scored at least 80 points for the third time this season … with 45 first-half points, the most the second-most Lipscomb has allowed in any half all year and the most allowed in a first half … with the victory Brad Brownell won his 159th career game at Clemson and now has 326 career victories … Brownell is 18 victories shy of tying Cliff Ellis for the most all-time in Clemson history and 19 away from passing him … Marcquise Reed posted his second 20-point outing in back-to-back games … he posted 20 points for the 31st time in his career and for the seventh time in 10 games this season … he has posted at least 25 points in a game for the sixth time in his career and third time this season … Reed now has 1,083 points in his Clemson career and now sits 34th on the all-time list – next up is his former teammate Donte Grantham at No. 33 who finished his career with exactly 1,100 points … with Reed’s career-high-tying five steals, he moves just 16 shy of cracking the top 10 steals list in Clemson history (Reed has 125) … Bobby Conrad (1976-80) sits at No. 10 and has 141 … Elijah Thomas swatted a season-best four shots and has now moved into the Clemson top 10 for blocked shots in a career (129) … Thomas had 125 entering today and passed John Campbell (1977-80) who had 126 … David Skara posted a career-high-tying 17 points … Skara also tied his career high with three steals … Shelton Mitchell is now just 102 points away from netting 1,000 in his Clemson career (898).
Story brought to you by our Sponsor:
