Late Run and Defense Sparks Clemson’s 75-62 Victory Over EKU
CLEMSON, S.C. – Viktor Lakhin’s (Anapa, Russia/CSKA-2/Cincinnati) double-double of 19 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks, in addition to Chase Hunter’s (Atlanta, Ga./Westlake) 19 points, helped lead Clemson University men’s basketball past Eastern Kentucky 75-62 on Tuesday night in Littlejohn Coliseum.
The Tigers (3-0) went down 54-50 in the second half but regained the lead quickly off a Del Jones (Landover, Md./Arizona Compass Prep) 3-pointer and steal that led to an Ian Schieffelin (Atlanta, Ga./Grayson) offensive rebound and basket.
Clemson turned in a 21-2 run spanning 10 minutes and 22 seconds of game clock to open a 71-56 lead with 1:29 to go and eventually go on to win by 13.
Jaeden Zackery (Salem, Wis./Westosha Central/Boston College) was a game-changer on the floor tonight for the Tigers. Zackery played nearly 39 minutes and totaled six points, five rebounds, four assists, two steals and stellar defensive play to limit the Colonel’s Devontae Blanton in the second half.
Nearly adding his second consecutive double-double, Schieffelin totaled 13 points and nine rebounds in the effort, adding four assists and a blocked shot.
The Tigers grabbed a season-high 19 offensive rebounds in the victory and received 15 points from their bench throughout the contest.
Clemson will hit the road for its first contest away from home this weekend traveling to Boise State for a Sunday afternoon tilt. Tipoff is set for 1:30 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network.
Notes: Clemson moves to 3-0 this season … Clemson won its first-ever game against Eastern Kentucky … Clemson moved to 15-1 all-time against members of the Atlantic Sun Conference … Head Coach Brad Brownell won his 435th game of his career and his 268th while at Clemson … Viktor Lakhin totaled his first double-double of the season with 19 points and 12 rebounds … it was his 10th career double-double … Chase Hunter now has 1,277 career points and remains 24th on Clemson’s all-time scoring list – he needs 31 points to tie Sharone Wright (1991-94) … Hunter’s three assists move him to within just six of tying for 10th all-time in Clemson history … he currently has 358 assists and 364 ties Marc Campbell (1980-84) … Ian Schieffelin now has 185 career assists, the fifth-most in Clemson history for a player 6-8 or taller … he is four rebounds shy of 600 for his career and 22 shy of tying James Mays for 25th all-time in Clemson history.