Clemson vs. Wake Forest Notes

by Press Release - Wed Jan 11 23:23:38 GMT-04:00 2006

*Clemson had 10 blocked shots and 15 steals in the win over Wake Forest. This is the first time Clemson has had at least 10 blocks and 15 steals in the same game since the 1989-90 season when a Clemson team led by Dale Davis and Elden Campbell had 16 blocks and

18 steals in a win over Radford. The head coach of that Radford team was Oliver Purnell.

*Vernon Hamilton scored 21 points to reach a new career high. The native of Richmond, whose sister Lauren Hamilton is a Wake Forest graduate, also added five rebounds and four steals without a personal

foul. His previous career high was 19 against Virginia in the ACC

Tournament his freshman year.

*Cliff Hammonds also had 21 points to tie his season high. He also added five rebounds, three assists and three steals.

*Hammonds and Hamilton combined for 42 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and just two turnovers in 77 combined minutes. They also had seven combined steals.

*Hammonds and Hamilton both scored at least 20 points the first time Clemson has had two 20-point scorers in the same game since Shawan Robinson had 22 and Sharrod Ford had 25 in an 88-73 win over Maryland on Feb. 1, 2005 at College Park.

*This was the first time Clemson has had two guards go for at least 20 points in the same game since Feb. 13, 2002. In that game, a

118-115 double overtime win over Wake Forest, both Tony Stockman and Edward Scott had 30 points apiece. Chris Hobbs also had 24 points to give Clemson three 20-point scorers. That was also the last time Clemson defeated Wake Forest. Thus, the only two times in the last

109 games that Clemson has had two guards score at least 20 points, Wake Forest has been the opponent both times and both games have been Clemson overtime victories.

*Freshman center Raymond Sykes had three blocked shots, a steal and two rebounds in the win over Wake Forest. Sykes had not played since December 20. He had just two blocks in six career games prior to Wednesday, then had three in 15 minutes against Wake Forest.

Blocking shots is nothing new for Sykes however. He once blocked 21 shots in a high school game.

*Eric Williams had 22 points and 20 rebounds for Wake Forest, the first opposing player to have a 20-20 against Clemson since January 17, 1972 when Tom Burleson had 24 points and 21 rebounds in a 58-46 NC State win in Raleigh. He was the first opposing player to get 20 rebounds against the Tigers since December 16, 1975 when Al Young had 20 rebounds for Jacksonville against Tree Rollins and the Tigers.

*Clemson won this game with a -16 rebound margin. It is the first

time Clemson has won a game with a rebound margin of -16 or worse since the 2000-01 season when Clemson was out-rebounded by 21 by The Citadel in an 84-76 Clemson victory at Littlejohn Coliseum.