Clemson Tigers stun Wake to end long losing streak

CLEMSON, S.C. — Clemson ended its longest losing streak in nine years without its two leading scorers.

With PJ Hall nursing his injured foot and Hunter Tyson a broken clavicle, the Tigers stunned Wake Forest with an 80-69 victory at Littlejohn Coliseum.

In the process, Clemson (13-15, 5-12 ACC) snapped a six-game losing streak, the program’s longest since it lost seven-straight to conclude the 2012-’13 season.

Clemson was led by Chase Hunter’s game-high 21 points. It was a career-high for the redshirt sophomore, who was 10-for-12 from the field. His 10 field goals were also a career best.

Al-Amir Dawes, who scored 19 points, sealed the victory with a nifty drive and layup with 1:03 to play in the game and then went 6-for-6 from the foul line in the final minute.

Nick Honored dropped in 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting, as the Clemson guards combined to score 53 points.

"We talked, and even Coach mentioned it, we just all had to play hard. That was the main thing," Hunter said. "It was like the backcourt just had to step up. Everybody has to play hard and we all came together."

Overall, the Tigers shot 54 percent from the field and were 44 percent (8-of-18) from 3-point range.

"We made shots tonight," Clemson head coach Brad Brownell said. "We consistently made shots to keep them at bay. They are really talented and they can really score. I don't think they had one of their better nights and they still got 69. You know what I mean?

"We had a phenomenal night for us. All three of our guards shot well. We have done that every game. Chase was phenomenal in terms of ten for twelve. Al hits five out of eleven and Nick five for seven. We made enough threes and we shared the ball. We played at our high end tonight. We played about to our max, especially without PJ."

The Tigers got some breathing room midway through the second half when they used an 8-0 run to take a 56-47 lead. Ian Schieffelin’s layup with 8:51 to play capped the run. Dawes hit back-to-back 3-pointers prior to Schieffelin’s basket.

Schieffelin added 10 points and five rebounds before fouling out with 1:27 to go. He and fellow freshman Ben Middlebrooks combined to play 48 minutes.

"Our young big guys fought," Brownell said.

Prior to the run, Wake Forest (21-8, 11-7 ACC) rallied from a 13-point deficit to cut the lead to one point twice in the second half. The Tigers led 28-15 with 6:29 to play in the first half before the Demon Deacons started to crawl back in the game.

Clemson led 36-33 at the break.

The Tigers were clinging to a one-point lead, 48-47, before Dawes sparked their 8-0 run for some late breathing room. Clemson led by as many as 12 points, 63-51, in the second half. The 12-point lead came with 6:31 to play.

"We gained confidence from our crowd and just making shots gives you energy and it was a little bit of a perfect storm for us. But, I think, that is how upsets happen," Brownell said.

But Wake, again, crawled back into the game as it scored eight straight points to trim the lead to four points, 63-59, with 3:56 to play. The Deacons, who never led in the game, got no closer than three points the rest of the way.

The Demon Deacons were led by Damari Monsanto’s 17 points.

Key Play: With Clemson holding a 70-67 lead, Al-Amir Dawes split defenders through the lane for a layup that gave the Tigers a much needed five-point lead with 1:03 to play.

"The lane was open. Everybody defensively was guarding their guy or whatever, so that opened everything up for me," Dawes said. "You know, I can drive the ball too now. I just made a play and it worked out for the best."

Player of the Game: Chase Hunter kept the Tigers in front all night. After Wake cut the lead to four points, 66-62, he scored the next seven points for Clemson to extend the lead back to seven points.

"I did not even know I scored seven straight points," Hunter said. "I would just say that was a big time for us and a big time for me. I would just say that, it just all came together for us. They did make runs, but the good thing for us is that we combated those runs. That was the big thing for us."

Stat of the game: Despite not having Hall or Tyson, the Tigers outscored Wake 34-26 in the paint. Clemson also had 18 assists in the game. David Collins and Dawes led the team with four assists each.

Injuries: P.J. Hall (foot), Hunter Tyson (broken clavicle) and David Collins (thumb and thigh).

Up Next: The Tigers travel to Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts on Saturday to take on Boston College. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.

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