Late-Game Struggles Cost Clemson Again |
BOSTON - Clemson's NCAA Tournament hopes are now officially on life support.
The Tigers lost for the ninth time in 11 games Saturday, falling at Boston College by a score of 59-54. Clemson (19-9) is now 5-9 in the ACC, assuring it a losing conference record. The loss came despite a 30-25 halftime lead for Oliver Purnell's club. Clemson had been 17-1 when leading at the half. Boston College (19-9, 10-5 ACC) opened the second half on an 11-3 run to take the lead, 36-33. The team's battled closely the rest of the way, but when BC extended the lead to as many as seven in the latter stages of the game the Tigers had no answer. The late-game offensive struggles continued with poor shooting down the stretch and, at times, an inability to do something as simple as catch a pass in the lane in transition. Clemson's last lead was 46-44 midway through the second half, but BC responded with an 11-0 run to take a lead it would not relinquish. Jared Dudley led the winners with 23 points and 11 rebounds, while Sean Marshall added 18. Tyrese Rice scored 14. K.C. Rivers topped Clemson with 15 points, while Trevor Booker added 14.
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