Clemson Shoots Lights Out in 75-48 Rout of Temple
R-Junior Nick Honor finished 7-for-7 from the field with a game-high 19 points to lead the Tigers
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Clemson University men’s basketball avenged a 2017 Charleston Classic championship game to Temple on Thursday night at TD Arena. Clemson dominated from start to finish and routed Temple 75-48 to advance to the semifinals against No. 22 St. Bonaventure on Friday afternoon at 2:30 p.m.
The Tigers (4-0) were led by Nick Honor (Orlando, Fla./Lake Highland) who finished perfect from the field (7-7 FG; 4-4 3FG) and a game-high 19 points. Honor also tallied three assists and a blocked shot.
Two other Tigers finished in double figures with PJ Hall (Spartanburg, S.C./Dorman) and Hunter Tyson (Monroe, N.C./Piedmont) each tallying 13 and 11 points, respectively. David Collins (Youngstown, Ohio/First Love Christian Academy) nearly nailed down his first down double double as a Tigers and finished with seven points and a game-high nine rebounds.
Clemson finished the opening stanza red-hot from the field and ended the first period on a 15-2 run. The Tigers had been trailing the Owls (1-2) 24-23, but would head into the break ahead 38-26.
To open the second half, Clemson would go on a 15-4 run over the first 5:11 of the period to total a 30-6 dating back to 7:56 mark of the first half (13:07 off the game clock).
Clemson committed to just five turnovers in the game to Temple’s 17. The Tigers also finished with 16 assists on 30 made baskets (53.3 percent).
Chase Hunter (Atlanta, Ga./Westlake) and Alex Hemenway (Newburgh, Ind./Castle) each tallied six points, while Ian Schieffelin(Loganville, Ga./Grayson) scored five off the Tiger bench.
All four games this season the Tigers have shot over 40.0 percent from three, which marks the first time since a four-game stretch during the 2017-18 season (Jan. 28-Feb. 8).
The 48 points scored by Temple gave Clemson its 53rd game holding an opponent under 50 points during the Brad Brownell Era (since the 2010-11 season). Clemson is 51-2 in those games and have won its last 30 contests in which they have done that.
Clemson returns to the floor tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 p.m. when they will challenge No. 22 St. Bonaventure in the semifinals. The game will be televised on ESPN2.
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