Marcquise Reed had a marquee night against Wake Forest, again, matching his season high of 21 points (also against Wake) in a 95-83 win on Tuesday at Littlejohn Coliseum.

Reed has been a reliable sixth-man, averaging 9.3 points per game to go along with a 42-percent clip from three-point range.

While Reed, who transferred from Robert Morris last year, is a score first player (he averaged 15 points per game as a freshman), head coach Brad Brownell says his improvements in his defensive game have given him more confidence in his all-around play.

“He’s also becoming much better defensively…I just feel like there is a confidence with him that’s coming, and that is good to see,” said Brownell.

It seems that the key word for Reed and the Tigers is confidence.

“I just come into the game with confidence,” said Reed. “When you play with confidence you play pretty well.”

While the defense allowed 83 points and the Demon Deacons shot 50-percent from the field, the offense looked confident as Clemson tied a season high point total of 95. Reed says that the team just needs to stay motivated, especially when the opposing team goes on a big scoring run in the second half.

“I think we were confident throughout the whole game. We had the lead pretty much throughout the whole game but they went on a run,” he said. “Basketball is a game of runs so you just have to stay calm and collect.”

Wake Forest took a 21-point lead and cut it to six in the second half, but unlike the Tigers last couple of close losses, made free throws down the stretch and secured their fourth ACC victory. Reed says that if the team can stay motivated, they still have a shot at a tournament bid.

“We just gotta stay motivated I think. We all have a vision to go to the NCAA Tournament and there is still a chance for us to go,” he said. “We just gotta keep coming in and practicing hard and just try and come out on top with wins.”

Clemson will have to continue to play with confidence if they still want to try and squeeze its way into the tournament.

The final five game stretch of the season starts against a tough 16-8 Miami squad in Coral Gables this Saturday.