CLEMSON — They say that three’s a crowd, and with a 69-59 win over the Miami Hurricanes Saturday at Littlejohn Coliseum, the No. 22 Clemson Tigers made sure to cut down the number of ACC unbeatens to two.

The Tigers improved to 6-0 in ACC play, putting them a half-game in front of No. 6 Duke (5-0), who plays at Stanford later tonight.

In an afternoon packed with with orange, purple and stifling defense, the Tigers held Miami 20 points under its average of 87 points per game. Clemson held the Hurricanes to 37 percent shooting from the field, and only 25 percent from three-point-land.

Forward Carter Welling led the Tigers with a season-high 18 points, while veteran guard Dillon Hunter commanded the “Floor General” role with a team-high seven assists to go with seven points. Clemson shot 52.9 percent from the field and 47.1 percent from beyond-the-arc on 8-of-17 shooting.

Clemson (16-3, 6-0 ACC) never trailed, as it waltzed its way into its second-best start in ACC play in program history, and snapped Miami’s 10-game winning streak, extending their own streak to nine consecutive wins.

The Tigers opened up all scoring with a Welling three-pointer, and jumped out to an early 8-0 lead with 16:31 to play in the first half. Backed by a soundtrack of a screaming sold-out crowd, Clemson’s defense held the Hurricanes scoreless on their first seven possessions.

Miami (15-3, 4-1 ACC) cut Clemson’s lead 15-12 thanks to four points from center Malik Reneau, the ACC’s fifth-leading scorer, and a triple from guard Dante Allen. Thanks largely to Welling’s 10 points in the first 11 minutes of play, however, Clemson jumped back up to a 24-14 lead with eight minutes to play. 

The Tigers shot 41.7 percent from three on 5-of-12 shooting in the first period and 14-for-31 from the field. Seven Clemson players scored in the first half as Brownell ran in rotations of five players at a time.

While Clemson’s offense wore down the Hurricanes’ defense, the defensive side of the floor was the difference in the half. 

Clemson held Miami to 36.7 percent shooting from the field, and only 23.7 percent on 3-of-13 shooting from long range. The Tigers forced 12 Canes turnovers in the first half, including three steals each from guard Jestin Porter and Hunter.

Clemson scored nine first half points off of turnovers to Miami’s four, and finished with nine first half assists. 

The Tigers went to the locker room with a 35-26 lead.

The scoring was more evenly distributed early in the second half, as the Canes outscored the Tigers 9-8 in the first six minutes of the second half, cutting Clemson’s lead to eight. 

Porter got the lead back to double-digits at 46-45 with a triple from the top of the key, off of Dillon Hunter’s seventh assist of the afternoon. 

After Miami cut the lead to nine, Clemson went on a 7-0 run that included Porter’s three-pointer, an Ace Buckner layup, a drawn charge from R.J. Godfrey, and a dunk from forward Jake Wahlin that forced Jai Lucas to call a timeout.

Littlejohn exploded as the Tigers took a 15-point lead, the largest of the night. However, thanks to a couple Clemson turnovers and a 9-0 Miami run, the Canes cut it to eight with seven minutes to play. 

However, Reneau fouled out after Miami’s run, and Clemson capitalized with baskets in the paint from Porter and Hunter, regaining an 11-point lead.

To seal the deal, Hunter drilled a three-pointer from the wing to take a 14-point lead with 3:39 to play, forcing a Miami timeout.

Hunter finished with seven points on 3-for-6 shooting, along with a season-high seven assists. He also finished with five rebounds and three steals.

Welling tied a season-high 16 points, leading all Tigers scorers. He also recorded a team-high nine rebounds.

Godfrey and Porter also ended in double figures, at 10 and 11, respectively.

Elden Campbell

During a first half timeout, Littlejohn Coliseum burst into cheers and chants of “El-den Camp-bell,” honoring the late Tiger basketball standout, who still remains Clemson’s leading scorer. Campbell’s family was honored at halfcourt.

Campbell passed away on Dec. 1 in what was described as a “medical emergency.” 

Injury Updates

Zac Foster remains out with a torn ACL.

Up Next

Clemson will look to continue its win streak and tie its best start in ACC play this Tuesday, when the Tigers will NC State at Littlejohn Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.