TAMPA – Clemson University men’s basketball fell to Iowa 67-61 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday night at Benchmark International Arena.
The Tigers (24-11) were led by RJ Godfrey’s (Suwanee, Ga./North Gwinnett/Georgia) 15 points and seven rebounds. Butta Johnson (Huntsville, Ala./Grissom/UAB) added 11 and made three triples.
Dillon Hunter (Atlanta, Ga./Westlake) scored eight points and added a team-best three assists and two steals. Nick Davidson (Mission Viejo, Calif./Mater Dei) and Jestin Porter (Houston, Texas/Cypress Ridge/Middle Tennessee State) each scored eight.
Clemson struggled to get things going early in the first half, but battled to trail the Hawkeyes by just seven, 32-25, at the break.
The Tigers got down by as many as 14 points in the second half, but rallied thanks to a 17-7 run and trailed by just four at 61-57. Clemson just could not get over the hump and get it all square.
The Hawkeyes outrebounded the Tigers 40-27 and in turn led Clemson in second-chance points 16-4. Clemson committed just three turnovers, the fewest for a Tiger team in an NCAA Tournament game in school history.
The Hawkeyes outshot the Tigers at the free throw line 31-12, outscoring them 24-8 at the charity stripe.
Clemson finishes the season with 24 victories – the fourth consecutive season that the Tigers have won at least 23 games. A first in school history.
