Clemson Opens Season With Hard Fought Defensive Win Over Mississippi State
By Zach Wagner
The Clemson Men’s Basketball Team opened its 2020-21 season in Melbourne, Florida on Wednesday night, defeating the Mississippi State Bulldogs in a defensive battle 53-42. The Tigers shot just 5-for-25 from behind the three point line, but also forced 19 Mississippi State turnovers and held the Bulldogs to 30% from the field.
Brad Brownell will now lead his team into the 2020 Space Coast Challenge Championship Game against the Matt Painter led Purdue Boilermakers. Purdue advanced to the championship game after a 77-64 win over Liberty earlier in the day.
The Clemson defense stifled the Bulldog offense in the first game of the season for both teams. The Tigers held State to just 15-50 from the field. Fouls were a problem for the Tigers on defense, allowing 27 free throw attempts by the Bulldogs, who converted just eight of them.
Freshman P.J. Hall had a brilliant first game for the Tigers, registering 10 points in 23 minutes of play on 5-of-6 shooting. The Spartanburg, South Carolina native also helped the offense by hauling in three offensive rebounds, and also blocked a shot on the defensive end of the floor. Hall filled in for preseason All-ACC First Team appointee Aamir Simms, who played just eight minutes and picked up five personal fouls.
Clemson outscored the Bulldogs in points off the bench by a large margin of 26-8.
