Clemson Routs Florida State; Earns Wire-to-Wire Victory 72-46
TALLAHASSEE – Clemson University men’s basketball routed Florida State 72-46 on Saturday afternoon in Tallahassee. It marked the second-largest victory margin in school history on the road at Florida State, which was 29 points but was also on the same date – Feb. 15, 1998.
The win was Clemson’s sixth road victory in ACC play this season which is a new school record. The previous mark of five was set by Cliff Ellis’ team in 1986-87 and tied by Brad Brownell’s Tigers in 2023-24. The Tigers tied a school record with their fifth double-digit road win. They now share that with Coach Ellis’ 1986-87 team – Horace Grant’s senior season. That same 1986-87 squad won its first five road games. This year’s version has tied their mark of five consecutive road victories.
The Tigers (21-5, 13-2 ACC) limited the Seminoles to just 19 first half points. It was the first time since the 2019-20 season that Clemson held an opponent to a sub-20-point half (15 at Wake Forest – First Half on Feb. 24, 2021).
Dillon Hunter (Atlanta, Ga./Westlake) turned in a career-high 17 points and fueled the Tiger victory, finishing 7-for-11 from the field, including 3-for-6 from three. Hunter added a team-best four assists. Hunter became the sixth player to lead Clemson in scoring this season in a game (no ties).
Collecting his 10th double-double of the season and 22nd of his career, Ian Schieffelin (Atlanta, Ga./Grayson) totaled 14 points and 12 rebounds and finished 6-for-10 from the floor.
Leading just 12-7 in the opening minutes of the first half, Clemson engineered a 22-7 run and led 34-14 before taking a 36-19 lead into halftime.
The Tigers led by as many as 26 and were in full control of their wire-to-wire victory over the Seminoles before cruising to a 26-point win.
Chauncey Wiggins (Grayson, Ga./Grayson) grabbed a career-high eight rebounds and finished with 10 points. Clemson moved to 12-1 in games that Wiggins scored in double-figures.
Del Jones (Landover, Md./Arizona Compass Prep) and Jaeden Zackery (Salem, Wis./Westosha Central/Boston College) each added six points each.
The Tigers’ earned their road 11th win in program history on the date of Feb. 15. The most of any day in Clemson history.
Clemson returns to the court on Saturday, Feb. 22 when it travels to SMU. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. ET on ACCN.
Notes: Clemson moves to 21-5 this season and 13-2 in the ACC … the 27-point win on the road at Florida State was the largest in Tallahassee in program history since a 29-point victory on Feb. 15, 1998 … it was the Tigers’ third-straight victory on the road in Tallahassee and just the 11th all-time on the road … the win was Clemson’s sixth road win in ACC play – a new school record … the Tigers tied a school record with its fifth double-digit road victory – tied with 1986-87 team … this year’s team also tied the 1986-87 squad with its fifth-straight road ACC win … Head Coach Brad Brownell won his 453rd game of his career and his 286th while at Clemson … Clemson is fourth in the ACC since 2017-18 with 85 league victories … Chase Hunter extended his program record of wins at Clemson (104) … Ian Schieffelin produced his 32nd career double-digit rebounding game with 12 rebounds … with 14 points and 12 rebounds, Schieffelin totaled his 22nd career double-double and 10th of the season … Schieffelin now has 815 career rebounds and is ninth on the all-time list … Dillon Hunter finished with a career-high 17 points and seven made field goals … Hunter tied a career-high with three 3-pointers … Chauncey Wiggins scored in double figures for the 13th time this season and the Tigers are 12-1 when he does.