Clemson Rallies Late, Wins 83-75 in Overtime over Southern Illinois

---

HONOLULU – Tanner Smith Tanner Smith
Sr. Guard
#5 6-5, 210
Alpharetta, GA
View Full Profile scored a career-high 26 points and freshman Rod

Hall converted a three-point play with 3.8 seconds left in the second half

to send Friday’s second-round game in the Diamond Head Classic into

overtime, where the Tigers eventually claimed an 83-75 victory over

Southern Illinois. The win improved Clemson to 7-5 on the season, and

dropped the Salukis to 3-7 overall.

In the overtime period, the Tigers made only three shots, but converted

15-of-17 at the charity stripe for a 21-point outburst. It was Clemson’s

second overtime win under Brad BrownellBrad Brownell
Head Coach
View Full Profile , and the second straight year the

Tigers triumphed in extra time in a regular season tournament. In

November of 2010, Clemson beat Seton Hall in the final round of the

Paradise Jam in the Virgin Islands.

Smith scored 24 of his 26 points in the second half or overtime. The

senior from Alpharetta, GA was 8-for-16 from the field, including 2-of-5

from three and 8-of-9 from the free throw line. His 26-point effort was

an individual scoring high by a Tiger under second-year Head Coach Brad

Brownell. Hall added a career-high 18 points on 5-of-10 shooting and

7-of-9 free throws. Devin BookerDevin Booker
Jr. Forward
#31 6-8, 245
Whitmire, SC
View Full Profile matched his career and season-best with

16, as he hit 7-of-9 from the floor and 2-of-3 at the line. A fourth hero

in the game was recent graduate Bryan NarcisseBryan Narcisse
Sr. Forward
#21 6-6, 220
North Augusta, SC
View Full Profile , who scored seven points

but delivered a career-best 12 rebounds in 31 minutes of action.

Despite a drought of 15 minutes without a field goal from the end of the

first half into the second half, the Tigers finished the game 26-of-61 for

a 42.6 percent clip. Clemson made 5-of-15 from three and a season-high 26

free throws in 34 tries. The Tigers also won the rebounding battle 41-35

over the smaller Salukis.

Clemson scored much earlier in Friday’s game than they did in the opening

round against UTEP. The Tigers got a three-point play on a Booker tip-in

and free throw just 37 seconds into the contest. The Tigers did not score

versus UTEP until K.J. McDanielsK.J. McDaniels
Fr. Guard
#32 6-5, 190
Birmingham, AL
View Full Profile hit a free throw nearly six minutes into

the game.

Booker scored seven of the Tigers’ first 11 points before Andre YoungAndre Young
Sr. Guard
#11 5-9, 175
Albany, GA
View Full Profile

converted his first three-point goal since the Winthrop game on Dec. 17.

He had gone 0-for-11 over the last two games against Alabama State and

UTEP. Young finished the game with 11 points. Clemson extended its lead

to 20-12 on a Booker runout after Hall knocked down a floater in the lane

moments earlier.

After a Chris Lowery timeout, SIU responded with nine straight points to

claim the lead at 21-20. The Salukis built the lead to 26-22 with Booker

and Smith on the bench with two fouls apiece. Josh Swan hit a three, the

Salukis’ fifth in their first six attempts, to provide the four-point

cushion.

The lead grew to eight after Justin Bocot hit a rainbow three, making the

game 31-23 in favor of SIU. Clemson actually held Southern Illinois to

only that basket in the final six-plus minutes of the opening half.

Despite making only two of its final 16 field goal attempts, the Tigers

were only down 31-24 at the break.

Hall came out strong in the second frame, scoring five consecutive points

to cut the Saluki lead to four at 33-29. The second three-pointer of the

season by Narcisse drew the Tigers back within five at 39-34 after Bocot

hit yet another three earlier.

Smith pulled the Tigers within two at 45-43 on a rare four-point play

after he hit a deep three on a Booker pass out to the wing. The next

possession, Smith found himself alone inside so he spun to the basket and

got a layup to go with a foul from the Salukis’ Dantiel Daniels.

Suddenly, Clemson had its first lead since the 8:13 mark of the opening

half.

With Clemson leading 50-47, SIU put together a 10-0 run to reclaim the

lead again. The Salukis had three emphatic dunks, the last by Davante

Drinkard. Smith broke another four-minute drought with a driving layup

to pull the Tigers back within five at 57-52.

Narcisse had a great defensive play and snatched a rebound out of the air

with Clemson trailing 61-55. He found Andre Young, who had a long pass

ahead to Smith who flipped it back to his right to a trailing Booker for a

monster jam to pull the Tigers within four. The next trip, Young had a

steal and tie-up to give the Tigers possession, where Booker again took a

feed from Smith for a dunk to make it 61-59. Smith had a couple of looks

in the final minute to tie the game, but was unable to convert as the

Salukis blocked his shot the final time with 15 seconds left.

SIU turned the two-point game into a three-point lead on a Drinkard free

throw, but Hall answered with a three-point play as he bullied his way to

the basket and drew contact. He converted the layup and freebie. Mamadou

Seck missed a runner at the buzzer that would have given the Salukis the

win, instead sending the game into overtime, a first for both teams this

season.

The Tigers move on to the fifth place game to take on the winner of Xavier

vs. Hawaii, who play Friday at 8:30 PM local time. If Xavier wins,

Clemson’s final game will be against the Musketeers at 2:00 PM Eastern on

Sunday. If Hawaii wins, Clemson and the Warriors will square off at 4:30

PM.

Trending on TigerNet

Clemson lacrosse takes OT regular season finale win at Pitt

No. 4 Tigers welcome back starter to rotation, hosts Pittsburgh

All-conference post player signs with Clemson

Clemson ACC road trip named Top 10 'most meaningful' matchup of 2024 season