By Will Vandervort.

By Will Vandervort

When Damarcus Harrison saw Clemson’s Bernard Sullivan throw down a missed shot by Devin Booker with five minutes to play Tuesday night at Littlejohn Coliseum, he had a flashback.

“That’s the Bernard I know from high school and everything,” Harrison said. “I was glad to see him play tonight and play well and get his first dunk of the season.”

What made it especially good for Harrison was the fact he was on the receiving end of a Sullivan dunk this time around. The two played against each other in high school when they both went to private schools in the state of North Carolina.

“That was a nice slam he had,” Harrison said following the Tigers’ 63-60 victory over Georgia Tech. “I just like to see other guys on the team do well. It’s a good thing. I hope he builds off of this and has a good rest of the season.”

Sullivan finished the game with seven points as all seven came at key moments, including a three-pointer at the top of the wing that got him going midway through the first half.

“I have been working on my shot a lot,” Sullivan said. “For the four-man, that high post is a big spot for us to be able to do things. I have been working on my shot and my skills and being able to make plays.

“This is definitely a confidence booster. Having a good game under my feet and being able to come back with the same confidence, the same patience and the same mentality I had in this game for the next game.”

Sullivan matched his career-high of seven points from last year at Virginia Tech on 3of-5 shooting from the field.

“Bernard was great tonight,” Clemson head coach Brad Brownell said, “I’m really happy for him. He’s been working at it in practice sometimes. He has played well and other times he has struggled. Sometimes the game seems to move a little fast for him.

“Having set that, there is a huge difference in Bernard this year compared to last year.”

Last year, Sullivan was a different player as he struggled with his ailments. He still isn’t one of those guys where conditioning is great, but he has his explosiveness back.

“You saw that on the putback tonight,” Brownell said. “We have seen more explosiveness in the last four to six weeks with him, and that has been really god to see. There are just something he struggles with a little bit, but today he was big.

“We don’t win this game if he doesn’t play that well. He fought inside better and hung in there with some bigger plays.”

Sullivan says he has tried to remain patient and when his number is called, he will always be ready.

“I just want to help the team any way I can, whether that is cheering on the bench or being out there to provide energy if that is scoring or rebounding,” Sullivan said. “I will do whatever it takes to win.”

And Sullivan played a big role in why the Tigers won, one they desperately needed as they head to Boston College for a noon tip on Saturday.

“This was a very big win,” he said. “We have played well even in some of the losses, but we weren’t finishing games. The last couple of games we have been able to finish them so it feels real good.”