Clemson Second Half Comeback Falls Short at Virginia Tech
By Zach Wagner
The Clemson Men’s Basketball Team’s second half double digit deficit comeback fell just short in Blacksburg, Virginia as Clemson (5-1, 0-1 ACC) dropped its first game of the 2020-21 season. Al-Amir Dawes led all scorers with 18 points and shot 5-of-11 from behind the three point line.
As a team, Clemson shot 38% from the field and forced the Hokies into 17 turnovers compared to 13 of their own. VT shot 31 free throws from the charity stripe compared to Clemson’s 14, which was the deciding factor in the game.
Virginia Tech started the game out on a 6-0 run before the Tigers offense woke up and answered with a 6-0 run of their own. The first 10 minutes of the first half saw great team defense before the lid was lifted off the basket in the remaining 10 minutes. The Hokies saw themselves take a 32-27 halftime lead into the locker room.
Al-Amir Dawes led the Clemson offense in the first 20, scoring 10 points on 3-of-5 shooting from behind the arc. Clemson forced 11 first half turnovers and also grabbed five steals. Clemson is first in the ACC so far this year in both steals and defensive efficiency.
After the Hokies began the second half on a 9-2 run, Clemson clawed its way back into the game with a 8-0 run with 12 minutes left down 13 to cut the lead 5. The Tigers would cut the lead all the way down to two with 25 second left, but a missed three pointer and two made free throws from the Hokies put the nail in the coffin for the Tigers first ACC game of the season.
Clemson’s next game against in-state rival South Carolina has been postponed with no timetable for a reschedule at this moment. The Tigers will be back in Littlejohn Coliseum next Tuesday, December 22nd against Morehead State.
