Tigers Race Past Rattlers with Dominant Second Half 86-58

CLEMSON, S.C. – Clemson University men’s basketball outscored Florida A&M by 22 in the second half to pull away and win 86-58 on Friday night in Littlejohn Coliseum.

The Tigers (7-1) finished the week 3-0 after claiming the Sunshine Slam tournament championship earlier with wins over San Francisco and Penn State.

Chase Hunter (Atlanta, Ga./Westlake) led the way with 16 points, while Chauncey Wiggins (Grayson, Ga./Grayson) added 15, Jaeden Zackery (Salem, Wis./Westosha Central/Boston College) scored 13 and Viktor Lakhin (Anapa, Russia/CSKA-2/Cincinnati) totaled 12.

Ian Schieffelin (Atlanta, Ga./Grayson) once again dominated the glass and grabbed 15 rebounds, including four on the offensive side. It was his third consecutive game with at least 13 rebounds. 

Clemson got off to a relatively slow start in the opening stanza before a 9-2 surge down 29-28 pushed them into the lead at the break 38-32.

The Tigers’ defense to start the second half was stifling. They held the Rattlers to just four points through nearly the first nine minutes of the period. In concurrence with its defense, Clemson shot 54.8 percent from the floor and 58.3 percent from three to blow the game open and cruise to a 26-point victory.

Christian Reeves (Charlotte, N.C./Oak Hill Academy (Va.)/Duke) tied career highs with six points and three made field goals. 

Clemson returns to action on Tuesday, Dec. 3 when it hosts No. 8/8 Kentucky at 9:30 p.m. in Littlejohn for the second annual ACC/SEC Challenge. The game will air on ESPN.