Clemson vs Louisville
Clemson traveled up to Louisville, Kentucky on Saturday for a noon tip in ACC action. The Tigers looking to get back in the win column come in on the heels of a heartbreaker in Miami earlier in the week. Clemson, who is fighting to keep itself relevant for the NCAA tourney field and qualify for “March Madness”. At present the Tigers Finds themselves as a projected 10 seed going into this contest.
A hard fought first half that started with a flurry or turnovers. Clemson led by as much as 4 as both teams settled down and attacked each other’s defense and had success inside the perimeter. With Clyde Trapp hitting a three as the clock expired in the first half. Tigers go into the locker room with a 23-19 lead on the Cardinals. Tigers who shot 10-27 from the field led by Freshman Clyde Trapp with seven points. Clemson held Louisville to 8 of 27 on the half.
The second half saw much of a carbon copy of the 1st with a lot of turnovers and some good defense on both sides. Clemson maintained it’s lead but briefly lost it back to the Cardinals with around 9:00 left in the half but quickly took it back on a deep three pointer as Marquis Reed lifted off the floor to drain the basket and put the Tigers up 2 at 39-37 with 6:36 left in the game.
Late in the game Eli Thomas hits a couple big free throws to bring it with 5, then on successive possessions the big man scored inside to cut it to a one point lead. Then on the following trip down the court missed two free throws that would have put the Tigers on top. The Cardinals took it down court and quickly turned that into points to go up 51-47 with .57 seconds left in the game.
Clemson makes a valiant effort as Marquis Reed hits a pair of three’s to really force the issue and bring the Tigers to within a single point with 3.5 seconds left on the clock. Tigers steal the inbound and Shelton Mitchell lifts a finger roll that gets blocked and time runs out as the Tigers lose yet another heartbreaking game this time by a single point 56-55.
Coach Brownell and staff have to find themselves looking even harder for a way to get this team motivated and ready for top 25 FSU squad inside Littlejohn Coliseum for a 9pm tip on Tuesday night.
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