Courtesy of Clemson Athletics
Clemson blows out Georgia Tech
CLEMSON, S.C. — Clemson got 17 points and seven rebounds from PJ Hall, while Brevin Galloway added 14 points in a 72-51 victory over Georgia Tech Tuesday at Littlejohn Coliseum. Hunter Tyson added 12 points and had eight rebounds in the win.
True freshman Chauncey Wiggins also scored 12 points for No. 24 Clemson on 5-of-7 shooting, including 2-for-3 from three-point range.
The win was the Tigers’ ninth in ACC play to only one loss, the best start for the program in conference play all time.
"Obviously, I am thrilled and happy for my team, players and fans, but there is still ten games to go," Clemson head coach Brad Brownell said. "We have done a nice job of staying together and being focused. We have played well enough at times to win some good games."
The victory marked Clemson’s 15th straight at Littlejohn, the longest streak for the program since it had a had a 15-game home win streak between March 1, 2017-Feburay 18, 2018. The longest home winning streak in Clemson history is a 29-game streak from January 7, 1989-December 15, 1991.
Clemson finished the night shooting 53 percent from the field, including 9-of-20 from three-point range.
Defensively, the Tigers held Georgia Tech to 34 percent shooting overall. The Yellow Jackets were just 4-of-23 from three-point range.
"Credit to Clemson. They hit some big shots," Georgia Tech head coach Josh Pastner said. "The difference is they're 9-of-20 from three and we are 4-for-23."
Galloway scored 12 first-half points in staking the Tigers to a 37-28 halftime advantage. Clemson shot 50 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes, including 5-of-10 from behind the arc.
The Tigers (17-4, 9-1 ACC) led by as many as 13 points, 23-10, in the first half. That came on a Wiggins’ jumper with 10:23 to play in the half.
With Georgia Tech in zone to start the game, Tyson opened the night with a three-pointer and then Galloway followed with back-to-back threes of his own. Clemson led 12-0 before Tech scored its first points at the 16:44 mark of the half.
"They start a lot of games in zone," Brownell said. "They started in zone against us down there. We were prepared. Our guys moved the ball, got good shots and knocked them in. It got us off to a good start."
The Yellow Jackets (8-12, 1-9 ACC) cut the lead to three points, 25-22, with 6:08 to play in the first half, but it could get no closer.
"Give the Georgia Tech kids credit. We got them on their heels, but they regrouped and played much better the rest of the first half," Brownell said. "Our guys did a nice job in the second half of playing the right way, doing what we needed to do. Very efficient.
"Defensively, got a lot of good things done. Good to see a lot of my young freshmen guys being productive and getting more opportunities and little foul trouble. Again, just a really good performance by our team."
Clemson led by as 21 points in the second half, 72-51, as they completed the season sweep of the Jackets.
Stat of the game: The win gave the 2022-’23 Tigers sole possession of the best 10-game start to conference play in program history. The previous record was an 8-2 start in league play by the 1951-’52 Tigers that played in the Southern Conference and the 1986-’87 Tigers led by ACC Player of the Year Horace Grant.
Injury update: Point Guard Chase Hunter missed his third straight game due to an ankle injury he suffered in the win over Duke on Jan. 14. Dillion Hunter, Chase’s younger brother, started in his place. Guard Alex Hemenway missed his ninth straight game due to a foot injury.
Player of the Game: Brevin Galloway set the tone with back-to-back three-pointers, including one that turned into a four-point lead. That gave Clemson a 10-0 lead at the time. Galloway finished his night with 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting.
Key Moment: The Tigers opened the game with a 12-0 run on back-to-back-to-back three-pointers from Hunter Tyson and Brevin Galloway.
Up next: Clemson will play at Florida State on Saturday at 5 p.m. The game will be televised on ACCN.
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