CLEMSON – The Clemson winning machine kept rolling, taking the latest iteration of the rivalry with South Carolina. Yet again, who the Tigers consider their “x-factor” made his mark on the game.

Junior forward Ian Schieffelin had his first double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds. He continues to make winning plays, and it was his third-straight game with double figures on the glass.

A team that features PJ Hall and Joseph Girard III, yet Schieffelin is the one making sure Clemson maintains the dominant start.

“Ian has been tremendous all year. People don’t realize how skilled Ian is outside. I mean that’s a huge skill, that’s a very underrated skill. Dennis Rodman, huge rebounder. There are guys in the NBA who are rebounders nowadays but when you have somebody like that, that can shoot the ball…but he’s willing to go in there and do the dirty work. I mean, Ian Schieffelin is the absolute X-factor for us,” Hall said.

Both Hall and head coach Brad Brownell echoed the statement in slightly different wording that wins don’t come without Schieffelin. In this game alone, he proved to be far more than the dominant rebounder he’s known for.

Down 56-54 second half, the defense sagged off and gave him a spot-up three that he made without hesitation. Schieffelin isn’t considered a sharpshooter, but he’s an absurd 62.5% from behind the arc albeit with low volume.

That moment almost didn’t occur as Schieffelin was going to be checked out. Before the decision was made, it was as if Brownell had a premonition and kept his veteran on the floor.

“My assistants wanted me to take him out and this was just one time I just said I’m not doing it. I thought we had a little bit of control of the game. It was really critical and I wanted him out there. Ironically, they were playing off our fours a little bit and I just kind of knew that the next thing we ran, he was gonna be at the top of the key and I just told him shoot it in,” Brownell said.

That he did, and added much more on the floor. Brownell praised his efforts guarding Gamecocks big man BJ Mack, who finished with 10 points on 3-13 shooting.

Whatever it takes, Schieffelin is going to do it for Clemson to win. Wednesday was just another example, and the Tigers continue to feed off his efforts.