Tigers Trounce USC Upstate 81-70 on Tuesday Night

CLEMSON, S.C. —  Clemson University men’s basketball improved to 2-1 on Tuesday night after a 81-70 win over in-state foe USC Upstate.

The Tigers (2-1) were paced by a 20-point effort from junior Chase Hunter (Atlanta, Ga./Westlake). Hunter finished with a career-high four 3-point field goals, while also tallying three assists. Senior Alex Hemenway (Newburgh, Indiana/Castle) netted a career-high 18 points on an efficient 7-of-9 from the field and connected on 4-of-6 3-point field goal attempts. 

Graduate Brevin Galloway (Anderson, S.C./Seneca) had his best showing in a Clemson uniform thus far as he scored 15 points and also grabbed five boards. Junior PJ Hall (Spartanburg, S.C./Dorman) also scored in double-figures with 13 points. Graduate Hunter Tyson (Monroe, N.C./Piedmont) totaled his fourth double-figure rebounding effort with 12 rebounds, including five on the offensive glass.

The Clemson offense got off to a hot start, shooting 53.8 percent in the first half and scoring 41 points in the opening stanza. The Tiger defense limited USC Upstate to 41.7 percent from the field and forced six turnovers. In the second half the Tiger offense shot 58.6 percent from the field and knocked down four 3-point field goals to keep USC Upstate at bay. The Tigers never trailed in the contest.

The Tigers will return to action on Friday to take on Bellarmine. The game is slated to tipoff at 7 p.m. on ACCNX.

Notes: 

• Clemson improved to 2-1 on the season and 2-0 all-time against USC Upstate
• Head Coach Brad Brownell won his sixth game of his career when coaching on his birthday; he is now 6-1 all-time and 4-0 at Clemson
• Coach Brownell also won his 387th career game and is now just 13 victories shy of reaching 400 career wins
• Brevin Galloway totaled his third-straight double-digit scoring game with a season-high 15 points
• Galloway tied his career-best with seven made free throws
• Chase Hunter scored 20 points for the second time this season and fourth time in his career … Hunter connected on a career-best four 3-point field goals
• Alex Hemenway scored a career-high 18 points after scoring 17 on two previous occasions … Hemenway finished 7-for-9 from the field and 4-for-6 from the floor, the seven made field goals were a career best
• Hunter Tyson nearly collected another double-double, but finished with 12 rebounds, including five on the offensive glass, it was Tyson’s fourth career double-digit rebounding game of his career
• PJ Hall played in his second game this season after returning from two offseason surgeries, Hall was limited to 21 minutes, but finished 6-for-11 from the floor and turned in his second consecutive double-digit scoring game with 13 points.