Tigers’ rally falls short at Virginia Tech

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BLACKSBURG, VA – Clemson rallied from a 17-point deficit and had the ball

with a chance to tie or win in the final seconds, but Tanner SmithTanner Smith

Sr. Guard

#5 6-5, 210

Alpharetta, GA

View Full Profile ’s

baseline shot fell off the rim and Virginia Tech escaped with a 67-65

victory on Saturday at Cassell Coliseum. The Hokies improved to 13-10

overall, 2-6 in the ACC. The Tigers dropped to 11-11 on the season, 3-5

in conference play.

K.J. McDanielsK.J. McDaniels

Fr. Guard

#32 6-5, 190

Birmingham, AL

View Full Profile almost single-handedly put the Tigers on his back in the

second half, as he scored eight of his team-high 14 points to lead

Clemson’s gritty effort after a horrid offensive start to the game. He

made 7-of-11 field goals, which included five dunks. He also had five

rebounds and five blocked shots in a career-high 28 minutes of action.

The Tigers had four players in double figures. Andre YoungAndre Young

Sr. Guard

#11 5-9, 175

Albany, GA

View Full Profile also posted 14

points, 10 in the second half. He struggled shooting the ball from the

field, making only four of 13 attempts. But, he was perfect from the

charity stripe in four tries. Devin BookerDevin Booker

Jr. Forward

#31 6-8, 245

Whitmire, SC

View Full Profile added 11 points and 11

rebounds, his third double-double of the season. Tanner Smith also

reached double figures with 10.

Virginia Tech was led by Jarell Eddie, who scored a game-high 15 points.

He was supported by 12 points from freshman Dorian Finney-Smith and 10

from Erick Green.

The Hokies jumped out to an 18-5 lead after the Tigers were unable to hang

onto the ball in the early going, both on rebound attempts and in

half-court sets. Clemson turned the ball over six times by the 12:08 mark

of the opening half, and the Hokies scored easily in transition off the

miscues. Clemson had only four turnovers the entire 40 minutes against

Virginia last Tuesday.

A three-point play underneath on an offensive rebound by the Hokies’

smallest player, Marquis Rankin, made the count 21-7 in favor of Virginia

Tech. The lead stretched to as large as 16 on a putback by Green off his

own miss. Clemson then got a couple of baskets to fall, first a jumper in

the lane by Smith and then a Booker dunk off a Hokie turnover. But, Eddie

got a fortunate bounce off the top of the backboard on a three and it fell

through to push the lead back to 15 at 28-13.

The lead was extended to a game-high 17 at 34-17 on a four-point play by

VT’s Eddie at the 3:23 mark. Catalin BaciuCatalin Baciu

Sr. Center

#10 7-2, 255

Cluj-Napoca,

View Full Profile and McDaniels came to life in

the final minutes of the opening half. Baciu scored seven points in the

final three minutes, while McDaniels tipped home two dunks over the final

stages to cut it to 42-28 at intermission.

Clemson came out fighting in the second half, as Young hit a pair of

buckets to draw the Tigers closer. But a three by Finney-Smith and a dunk

by Victor Davila gave the Hokies a 51-37 lead at the first media timeout.

After a McDaniels block inside and a dunk on the other end, the Tigers had

it at 53-41. But, Clemson suffered another scoreless drought that lasted

about four minutes until Rod HallRod Hall

Fr. Guard

#4 6-1, 210

Augusta, GA

View Full Profile made a driving basket with 10:20

remaining in the game.

Following a steal by Smith, roommate Young uncorked his second successful

three of the second half from the corner to cut it to 61-50. But, the

Hokies once again had an answer as Finney-Smith sank his second

three-point goal of the half on the ensuing possession to make the lead

14. The lead finally went under double digits on an offensive board and

putback by freshman Bernard SullivanBernard Sullivan

Fr. Forward

#22 6-7, 225

Gastonia, NC

View Full Profile . He was fouled and made the free

throw to cut it to 64-55 with 4:08 to play. Sullivan had a season-best

seven points and four rebounds in only nine minutes.

Booker followed with another slam off a transition steal, thundering it

home to make it a seven-point deficit at 64-57 at the final media timeout.

Sullivan had a chance to pull the Tigers back to within seven after a

pair of Dorenzo Hudson free throws, but his follow shot was blocked by

Eddie. McDaniels hit a banked shot to make it 66-59. The Tigers got a

stop and then found McDaniels for a hit-ahead and easy slam to cut the

margin to five.

McDaniels’ fifth slam of the game brought the Tigers within three at 66-63

after a Hokie turnover. But, Clemson fouled Green and the Hokies’ leading

scorer only made the first. Smith came down and hit a stepback jumper and

made it 67-65 in favor of Tech. Davila was fouled and missed the front

end of a one-and-one, giving the Tigers possession in the final seconds.

The Tigers return to action at home on Tuesday, Feb. 7 against the

Maryland Terrapins. Tipoff is set for 7:00 PM at Littlejohn Coliseum in a

game that will be televised by ESPNU.

VISITORS: Clemson 11-11, 3-5


                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS


## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN


21 Narcisse, Bryan..... f  0-3    0-2    0-1    0  0  0   3   0  1  0  0  0  23


32 McDaniels, K.J...... f  7-11   0-1    0-3    3  2  5   2  14  2  1  5  0  28


31 Booker, Devin....... c  3-9    0-0    5-5    4  7 11   3  11  0  2  1  0  26


05 Smith, Tanner....... g  4-14   0-5    2-2    3  3  6   2  10  2  3  0  1  34


11 Young, Andre........ g  4-13   2-8    4-4    0  3  3   1  14  3  0  0  0  33


01 Sapp, T.J...........    0-3    0-1    0-0    1  0  1   1   0  0  1  0  0  12


04 Hall, Rod...........    1-2    0-0    0-0    1  0  1   2   2  1  1  0  0   9


10 Baciu, Catalin......    3-6    0-0    1-1    5  4  9   0   7  0  2  0  0  23


15 Coleman, Devin......    0-1    0-0    0-2    0  0  0   0   0  0  0  0  1   3


22 Sullivan, Bernard...    3-4    0-0    1-1    2  2  4   1   7  0  0  0  0   9


   TEAM................                         3     3


   Totals..............   25-66   2-17  13-19  22 21 43  15  65  9 10  6  2 200


TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 10-31 32.3%   2nd Half: 15-35 42.9%   Game: 37.9%  DEADB


3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  0-8   0.0%   2nd Half:  2-9  22.2%   Game: 11.8%   REBS


F Throw % 1st Half:  8-11 72.7%   2nd Half:  5-8  62.5%   Game: 68.4%   5,1





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HOME TEAM: Virginia Tech 13-10, 2-6


                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS


## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN


14 Victor Davila....... f  2-5    0-0    2-3    2  2  4   3   6  0  2  0  0  25


15 Dorian Finney-Smith. f  5-8    2-3    0-0    3  5  8   2  12  1  1  1  1  35


10 Marquis Rankin...... g  3-6    1-3    1-1    1  0  1   2   8  1  2  0  1  18


11 Erick Green......... g  3-11   1-3    3-4    1  1  2   3  10  2  1  0  2  33


31 Jarell Eddie........ g  5-12   2-6    3-3    1  5  6   5  15  3  1  2  0  35


01 Robert Brown........    1-3    0-2    0-0    0  1  1   0   2  3  0  0  0  10


04 Cadarian Raines.....    4-6    0-0    0-0    2  2  4   2   8  0  0  1  0  15


05 Dorenzo Hudson......    1-5    0-3    4-4    1  2  3   1   6  2  1  0  0  22


42 C.J. Barksdale......    0-2    0-0    0-0    0  1  1   1   0  0  0  0  0   7


   TEAM................                         3  1  4             1


   Totals..............   24-58   6-20  13-15  14 20 34  19  67 12  9  4  4 200


TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 16-35 45.7%   2nd Half:  8-23 34.8%   Game: 41.4%  DEADB


3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  4-11 36.4%   2nd Half:  2-9  22.2%   Game: 30.0%   REBS


F Throw % 1st Half:  6-6  100 %   2nd Half:  7-9  77.8%   Game: 86.7%    0





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Officials: Jamie Luckie, Roger Ayers, Brian Dorsey


Technical fouls: Clemson-None. Virginia Tech-None.


Attendance: 9426


Score by Periods                1st  2nd   Total


Clemson.......................   28   37  -   65


Virginia Tech.................   42   25  -   67


Points in the paint-CU 36,VT 28. Points off turnovers-CU 14,VT 11.


2nd chance points-CU 21,VT 15. Fast break points-CU 9,VT 4.


Bench points-CU 16,VT 16. Score tied-0 times. Lead changed-0 times.


Last FG-CU 2nd-00:27, VT 2nd-05:57.


Largest lead-CU None, VT by 17 1st-03:23.

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