CLESMSON — Clemson needed some form of life after watching its one-time 16-point lead dwindle down to five points against Florida State Saturday night.

However, Chase Hunter took matters into his own hands, literally.

Clemson’s senior guard went down a wide-open lane with 5:22 to play and threw down a thunderous one-handed dunk. The play lit Littlejohn Coliseum on fire, while lifting the Tigers to a 74-63 victory over the Seminoles.

Hunter scored 16 points, while Joe Girard had 24, as the two Clemson guards carried the Tigers. RJ Godfrey also added 12 points and six rebounds off the bench.

Godfrey’s 12 points and 4-for-5 shooting were huge on a night when PJ Hall and Ian Schieffelin combined to score just 10 points, mostly due to foul trouble.

Hunter, who had four assists, later made a no-look pass to Hall with 1:16 to play that gave the Tigers a 66-57 lead at the time.

Florida State (14-13, 8-8 ACC) was led by Jamar Watkins’ 18 points and seven rebounds. The Seminoles also got 16 points from Primo Spears.

For a second straight game Clemson played solid defense. The Tigers held the Seminoles to 37 percent shooting, including 21 percent (4-19) from behind the arc.

Clemson (19-8, 9-7 ACC) did not shoot much better (6-22 from 3-point range), but Girard was 4-for-11 and Hunter was 2-for-5 from downtown. The Tigers made just one field goal in the final four minutes.

The Tigers were 14 of 20 from the foul line, while FSU was 11 of 15.

Hunter made a deep three just before the horn sound for halftime. His three-pointer gave the Tigers a 38-28 lead at the break.

Clemson was 11 of 23 (48 percent) from the field in the opening half, while making 13 of 14 from the foul line. The Tigers were just 3 of 9 from behind the arc, though.

The Clemson defense continued where it left off at Georgia Tech Wednesday night. After holding the Jackets to 24 percent from the field in the second half, the Tigers held the Seminoles to 10 of 31 (32 percent) from the field and forced nine turnovers in the first half.

FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING

With Saturday’s win, coupled with last year’s sweep of the Seminoles and last month’s win in Tallahassee, Fla., Clemson has now beat FSU four straight times — a first for the Clemson Basketball Program.

IMPLICATIONS

Clemson’s win over the Seminoles keeps the Tigers alive for the No. 4 spot in next month’s ACC Tournament. They are currently a game behind Wake Forest (10-6) in the ACC standings. If Clemson wins out, it can take fourth place considering it ends the regular season at Wake.

The top four seeds in the ACC Tournament earn a double bye, which means they have to just win three games to win the tournament.

WEIRD NIGHT

It was a strange night for PJ Hall, due to foul trouble, Clemson’s big man scored a season-low seven points in 16 minutes. His seven points were his lowest since scoring five points against NC State on December 30, 2022.

It was the first time Hall failed to score at least 10 points in a game since at Boston College on January 21, 2023, a streak of 37 consecutive games.

Hall fouled out on a double-technical with 40 seconds to play.

INJURIES

Clemson guard Alex Hemenway was out (lower body), as was forward Bas Leyte (shoulder).

UP NEXT

The Tigers will stay home and host Pitt in a key ACC matchup on Tuesday. Tip is set for 7 pm on the ACC Network.