ATTENTION SUBSCRIBERS: Our NETWORK-WIDE, all-access pass allows you to read every premium message board in the Rivals.com network as part of a bundled add-on to your subscription!
Subscribers can add the All-Access Pass or a 3-Site Bundle in your account profile, under the Subscriptions tab: HERE
------------------------------------------
CLEMSON -- The Clemson Tigers closed their 2021-22 regular season on a high note Saturday, picking up a quality win over Virginia Tech in Littlejohn Coliseum.
The Tigers' 63-59 victory snapped a three-game losing streak to the Hokies and closed their home record at 11-5 for the season. In addition, with the win Clemson (16-15, 8-12) avoided its first losing (regular) season in nine years.
Tech fell to 19-12 overall and 11-9 in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
A Hunter Tyson three-pointer and a jumper by David Collins pushed Clemson out to a quick 5-0 lead. The Tigers would not fall behind the Hokies until seven minutes remaining in the first half when Nahiem Alleyne's three-pointer put the Hokies up 21-18.
Keve Aluma's dunk with just over a minute remaining before intermission put Tech up 33-24, its largest lead of the game.
Join Tigerillustrated.com subscribers on The West Zone message board!
The Tigers would score the half's final six points on baskets from Alex Hemenway and Collins.
P.J. Hall, who returned to action after nursing a broken clavicle suffered last month, scored the first two baskets of the second half, giving the Tigers a 34-33 lead. It would set the tone for a Clemson team that would control much of the second half.
With 4:55 left, two Sean Pedulla free throws for Tech evened the score at 54-54. Hall scored the Tigers' next two baskets and with 2:30 left, a Nick Honor jumper gave the Tigers a 60-57 advantage that would remain with under a minute to go.
A foul by Honor with 45 seconds left would send Tech's Justyn Mutts to the line where he would convert both free throws, cutting the Tigers' lead to 60-59.
Tyson's jumper with 32 seconds left widened Clemson's lead to 62-59. Then Chase Hunter went to the line with eight seconds remaining and converted one of the two shots to seal the Tigers' 63-59 win.
Tech was held to just 37.3-percent from the floor, 9-for-30 (30%) from long range. The Tigers shot 43.8% and hit 8-of-20 (40%) from three.
Two Hokies reached double figures in scoring - Mutts (15) and Alleyne (17). Mutts also added a game-high nine rebounds.
The Tigers had four players reach double figures in scoring, led by Hall's 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting. Hemenway (11), Collins (10) and Al-Amir Dawes (10) joined Hall in double figures.
The Tigers and Hokies will now travel to New York for next week's ACC Tournament at the Barclays Center.
SHOP for officially-licensed Clemson gear at The Tiger Fan Shop HERE!
