Clemson should be well-prepared for the annual rivalry game against South Carolina coming up on Tuesday.

The Tigers, who rank No. 30 in the NET Rankings after the comeback win over Mercer, have certainly been in their fair share of battles in the recent stretch of the challenging part of the non-conference slate. Clemson (8-3) suffered excruciating, close losses to Alabama and BYU, two Top 15 teams, over the past two weeks. Brad Brownell’s team also won two close ones in the Shriners Charleston Classic over West Virginia and Georgia. The win over the Bulldogs came in overtime.

Being battle-tested can only help the Tigers when it comes to the Gameocks, seeing as how most of these games in recent years have come down to the final minutes.

“We have played a lot of hard games,” Brownell said. “We have played a lot of games that have come down to the end. I am sure South Carolina will be the same.”

South Carolina won last year’s matchup in Columbia 91-88 in overtime. Two years ago, it was Clemson squeaking out a five-point win in Littlejohn.

“Our games are almost always really close,” Brownell added. “They are possession games. Grinders. You got to really execute.”

South Carolina comes in at 7-3, having dropped each of its three games against Power-4 opponents. The Gamecocks are No. 116 in the NET, with all seven of their wins coming over Quad 4 competition. Lamont Paris’ squad is winless in three tries against Quad 1 and Quad 2 teams.

Mercer is currently just four spots ahead of South Carolina in the NET, so the struggle Brownell’s team experienced against the Bears on Saturday should have them ready for what lies ahead on Tuesday night.

“This was one of those games, and we knew it,” Brownell said. “They were 110 or 112, or whatever they are in the NET, and there are a bunch of high-majors right next to them. They have guys who can play high-major basketball. They are very well-coached, and their pieces really fit well.”