CHARLESTON, S.C. – Clemson University men’s basketball trailed by as many 11 points in the second half, but Carter Welling (Draper, Utah/Corner Canyon/Utah Valley) scored 11 of his 13 points in the final three minutes to overcome the West Virginia advantage and lead Clemson to a 70-67 win on Friday night in the Shriners Children’s Charleston Classic.
The Tigers (5-1) trailed by seven after the opening stanza and by as many as 11 in the second half. Welling hit back-to-back threes within one minute of game clock to put the Tigers up 64-63 with 2:13 left.
A 9-0 run and strong defense and free throws down the stretch helped seal the victory for Clemson.
RJ Godfrey (Suwanee, Ga./North Gwinnett/Georgia) led the Tigers most of the night with energy and spirit, alongside Dillon Hunter (Atlanta, Ga./Westlake). Godfrey led the Tigers with 14 points, finishing with six rebounds, three assists and three blocks. Hunter finished with 13 and four assists.
Jestin Porter (Houston, Texas/Cypress Ridge/Middle Tennessee State) tied with Godfrey with 14 points and added two steals.
The Tigers got 27 points from the bench, which was led by Godfrey and Butta Johnson (Huntsville, Ala./Grissom/UAB) who finished with 11 points in his strongest game of the season thus far.
The Tigers outrebounded the Mountaineers 36-33 and outscored them in the paint 32-22.
Clemson will play the winner of Georgia and Xavier in the championship game on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Notes: Clemson improved to 5-1 with the win and 2-5 all-time against West Virginia … Brad Brownell won his 297th game at Clemson and his 464th in his career … the win secures Clemson’s fourth championship game appearance in the Charleston Classic … Butta Johnson totaled a season-high 11 points off the bench with season-highs in threes (2) … Carter Welling collected his fifth double-digit scoring game of the season (14) … RJ Godfrey added his fourth double-digit scoring game of the season … Dillon Hunter added a team-high four assists – tying a season-high.
