Tigers lose third ACC game in a row |
In each of their six losses this season, the Clemson Tigers have had one ugly half that spelled doom, and Tuesday night in Chestnut Hill was no exception.
The Boston College Eagles used a 21-4 first half run en route to a 17-point halftime lead, and the lack of a clutch perimeter shooter cost Clemson again as the Eagles beat the 21st-ranked Tigers 75-69 at Conte Forum, the Tigers’ third consecutive loss in the ACC. The Eagles (12-9, 3-4 Atlantic Coast Conference), used a 1-2-2 three-quarter court press that bothered the Tigers (15-6, 3-4), who were without the services of point guard Demontez Stitt. Clemson had jumped out to an early 8-3 lead, but the press helped lead the Eagles on their run, which led to a 42-25 halftime lead. The Tigers used a 13-3 run to start the second half that got them back in the game, but were unable to make a similar run to take the lead. The Tigers had one final small run in them, using two Tanner Smith free throws to trim the Eagle lead to 66-60 with 2:18 remaining, but Cortney Dunn had perhaps the play of the night for Boston College when his put-back off an Eagle miss put BC back up by eight with just under two minutes to play. Trevor Booker hit a short bank shot with 44.7 seconds to close the Tigers to within four at 68-64, but Reggie Jackson, who led the Eagles with 18 points and seven assists, hit six consecutive free throws in the final 33 seconds to seal the win. “Clearly, it was a tale of two halves,” Clemson head coach Oliver Purnell said. “They got some results from their press, and that is what you do when it is working. If we had broken it, because they normally don’t press, they might have come out of it. “But we were tentative in the first half in handling the basketball, shooting layups and shooting free throws. We turned the ball over 10 or 11 times. We just got beat in every phase of the game in the first half. We made a great effort in the second half, but we were in chase mode at that point, and you have to give BC credit because they made a couple of huge shots.” Trevor Booker was once again the leader for the Tigers with 19 points and eight rebounds. Jerai Grant had one of his better games with 12 points, but once again cost the Tigers by getting into early foul trouble, picking up his second just four minutes in the contest. Freshmen Noel Johnson and Devin Booker scored nine points apiece for Clemson, and Purnell said while he pleased with their play, he needs more out of them. “I thought Noel played really well, and I thought Devin did some good things,” Purnell said. “But defensively in the first half, Devin was not where he was supposed to be, and those things hurt. Devin is a heck of a talent, but we have to do a better job of getting ready at the beginning and being sounder in the backcourt press.” Now the Tigers face the daunting task of trying to end their league skid against one of the hotter teams in the ACC in Maryland, which blew out Miami Tuesday and leads the ACC with a 4-1 record. However, Purnell said he thought Stitt would be ready to go for the Terrapins, and hopes to begin a new streak on Sunday. “We have a first place teaming coming into our building, and we have to be ready to play for that one,” Purnell said. “What we have to do is try and string together some wins, but it starts at one. Maryland is a great challenge, but we should be healthy and ready to roll.”
VISITORS: Clemson 15-6, 3-4 ACC
Upgrade Your Account
Unlock premium boards and exclusive features (e.g. ad-free) by upgrading your account today.
Upgrade Now
