By Will Vandervort.

Clemson knew guarding Jerian Grant was going to be difficult. The Notre Dame guard proved just how hard that is in Saturday’s 81-67 victory over the Tigers in South Bend, Ind.

Grant finished the game 19 points, eight assists and had five rebounds in handing Clemson its second loss of the season to the Irish. It was a nice way for the senior to go out in the final home game of his career.

The Tigers (16-14, 8-10) had no answer for Grant whose ball movement and passing baffled them all day long. Notre Dame’s 81 points were the most allowed by the Tigers all season.

“They played very well. But we don’t win games where we don’t make it tough. It was too easy for them to score,” Clemson head coach Brad Brownell said.

Clemson finished the regular season losing six of its last eight games to close the year and will play Florida State at noon on Wednesday in the ACC Tournament. The Tigers and the Seminoles split the season series with Clemson winning in Tallahassee and FSU winning in Clemson.

The Tigers played admirably in the opening half as they shot 50 percent from the field and got 7 of 8 shooting from Jaron Blossomgame, who scored 17 points in the first 20 minutes.

Blossomgame opened the afternoon scoring the Tigers’ first seven points as they trailed just 8-7 following his three-pointer from the top of the key. Clemson tied the game at 11, then 15-15 and 19-19, before the Irish used a 9-2 run late in the half to grab control of the game.

Zach Auquste was the main issue for Clemson. He scored 13 points and had three rebounds in the first half while Grant was as smooth as always, dishing out five assists to go with his seven points at the time. Auquste finished the game with 19 points, four rebounds and three assists.

Notre Dame(26-5, 14-4 ACC) led by as many as 11 points in the opening half, but the Tigers made the last two buckets of the first half, including Blossomgame’s jumper with two seconds left on the clock to cut the lead 38-31 at the break.

Blossomgame finished the afternoon with a game-high 22 points and 10 rebounds. He was 9 of 12 from the field overall.

Landry Nnoko played perhaps his best game of the season, showing what he is capable of doing if he can keep himself on the floor. He totaled 19 points and at one point in the second half scored eight straight points for the Tigers.

“We thought we could score inside,” Brownell said. “We took advantage of Jaron on smaller guys. Offense wasn’t the problem today.”

Nnoko also grabbed nine rebounds and was 5 of 5 from the foul line and 7 of 12 from the field.

Notre Dame upped the lead to as many 18 points in the second and the Tigers got it no closer than 12 after that despite shooting 41.9 percent.

Clemson made just 4 of 18 three-pointers, though, and was 11 of 15 from the foul line. The Irish made 7 of 21 threes and was 14 of 18 from the charity stripe.

After the game Brownell said he chose not to play senior guard Rod Hall in the second half.