DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Ian Schieffelin delivered an impressive performance with 18 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists, guiding Clemson to a 75-67 victory over Penn State, thus securing the championship title in the Sunshine Slam Beach Division.
Chase Hunter contributed significantly with 17 points, while Chauncey Wiggins and Del Jones added 14 and 10 points respectively for the Tigers, who improved their record to 6-1. Clemson showcased a shooting accuracy of 44%, successfully converting 9 of their 19 attempts from beyond the arc, with Hunter hitting three of those three-pointers.
For Penn State, Ace Baldwin Jr. excelled with 20 points along with 11 assists, while Yanic Konan Niederhauser scored 14 points and Nick Kern Jr. added 11. The Nittany Lions, also at 6-1, boasted a shooting percentage of 46%, yet struggled with their perimeter shooting, managing only four successful three-pointers out of 18 attempts.
The competition remained intense, with neither team achieving a double-digit lead throughout the game, and the score was tied with just seven minutes left on the clock. However, Penn State faced a challenging six-minute stretch without a field goal, coupled with three turnovers, allowing the Tigers to surge ahead by six points. Schieffelin’s hook shot with one minute remaining extended the lead to five, and free throws in the closing moments clinched the victory, with the final margin of eight points being the largest lead of the entire match.
After Konan Niederhauser’s dunk at the beginning of the second half evened the score, Hunter quickly restored Clemson’s lead with a three-pointer. A swift 9-0 run from Penn State, powered by seven points from Baldwin, allowed them to take their first lead of the second half, edging ahead 57-54 mid-way through the period.
In the first half, Penn State built a seven-point advantage at one point, but Clemson responded with three consecutive three-pointers that shifted the momentum and gave them a 38-36 lead at the halftime break.
Clemson also capitalized on turnovers, outscoring Penn State 16-9 in points off those mistakes, underscoring their strategic advantage in this tightly contested matchup.