COLUMBIA, S.C. — In a thrilling match on Tuesday night, South Carolina triumphed over No. 25 Clemson with a final score of 91-88, thanks to Collin Murray-Boyles, who contributed 22 points, and Morris Ugusuk, who clinched the victory with a timely 3-pointer during overtime.

The Gamecocks (8-3) appeared to be in control with a 76-69 lead in the final moments of regulation. However, Chase Hunter made a dramatic comeback for Clemson by sinking three 3-pointers late in the game, including a bank shot that tied the game at 80, sending the teams into overtime.

In extra time, Ugusuk opened the scoring with a 3-pointer, followed by Murray-Boyles, who added two free throws to widen the gap.

Clemson (9-3) saw Duke transfer Christian Reeves step up with two crucial free throws, making the score 89-87 with only 3.7 seconds left. Unfortunately for the Tigers, Reeves missed his first attempt, while his second attempt managed to bank in. Shortly after, Jamarii Thomas was fouled, converting both of his shots to secure a two-point lead for South Carolina.

As the clock wound down, Hunter had a chance to tie the game but his floating 3-pointer fell short, allowing South Carolina to celebrate their fifth consecutive win.

Hunter ended the night with 27 points, while Schieffelin contributed 23 points and 12 rebounds before fouling out in the overtime period. For the Gamecocks, Stute also played a pivotal role, scoring 19 points.

Looking at the performance of Clemson, the Tigers made headlines earlier this month with a stunning 80-76 victory against highly-ranked Kentucky. However, they are now facing a two-game losing streak, likely jeopardizing their position in the rankings.

In contrast, South Carolina is gaining momentum, having secured five straight wins, three of which came against Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) teams.

One of the key highlights of the game was Ugusuk’s turnaround; the sophomore had been struggling with his shot, going 1 of 7, before hitting the decisive 3-pointer in overtime.

Notably, Nick Pringle of South Carolina also stood out with 18 points. He had previously scored 16 points and snagged 11 rebounds in a notable Elite Eight victory over Alabama last March.

Looking ahead, Clemson is set to begin its home ACC season against Wake Forest on Saturday, while South Carolina will take on Radford at home on Sunday.