CLEMSON — When looking at the stat line, it is easy to see why No. 22 Clemson beat Pittsburgh, 63-52, on Saturday at Littlejohn Coliseum.
Here is the state line: 26 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals. They also connected on 8 of 14 shots, including 5 of 8 from 3-point range and made 5 of 6 foul shots.
Those stats alone will have a plus-minus ratio that is off the charts. It’s obvious they had a great game.
However, those statistics did not come from one player. Those numbers came from the four Tigers that came off the bench to help the Tigers win their 15th consecutive game against Pitt.
The Tigers (18-4, 8-1 ACC) have not lost to the Panthers in 12 years.
It was Clemson’s bench play, once again, that proved to be the difference-maker against another ACC foe. Nick Davidson led all bench players with 12 points, which tied for the team lead on Saturday, while Butta Johnson scored 8 points.
Ace Buckner added 4 points to go with 4 assists and Chase Thompson scored 2 points as he helped the Tigers get through a difficult stretch in the first half where Clemson’s bigs were in early foul trouble.
Clemson’s bench outscored Pitt’s bench, 26-6.
“Obviously, our bench was really good,” head coach Brad Brownell said. “Nick was excellent. Jake (Wahlin) got in foul trouble, so Butta did some good things in the first half. It was good to get Chase Thompson back. He has been sick most of the week and has been out, so he really only practiced one day. So, it was good to get him a few minutes while he was out there in the first half, as well.”
While Johnson and Buckner did most of their damage in the first half, Davidson heated up in the second half. He scored 9 of his 12 points in the last 20 minutes and was 4-for-5 from the field, including a 3-pointer that allowed the Tigers to keep their distance from the Panthers.
Davidson also made a first half three and was 2-for-4 from beyond the arc.
“It unlocks a part of my game that I have been able to show in the past,” he said. “It also helps my teammates, too. It opens up guys for the drive, guys for the tuck ends and stuff like that, so it has been good.”
It helped Buckner have four assists.
“I do not think he had a turnover… That is the best thing about the game for him, his improving in those decision-making skills,” Brownell said. “I thought he played very well and gave us a huge jolt.”
The Tigers will need their bench again on Wednesday, when they head to the West Coast and take on Stanford for a 10 p.m., EST, tip.