In an intense showdown in Charlotte, North Carolina, Clemson secured a place in the Atlantic Coast Conference semifinals with a narrow 57-54 victory over SMU, extending their winning streak to nine games. The victory was fueled by Chase Hunter’s standout performance, which saw him scoring 21 points. His teammate, Jaeden Zackery, contributed 11 points to the Tigers’ efforts, while Ian Schieffelin bolstered the team with nine points and grabbed 12 rebounds.
Clemson, boasting a record of 27-5, is in pursuit of their first ACC Tournament title. On the other hand, SMU, with a 23-10 record, gave a strong fight, led by Matt Cross who scored 13 points and Boopie Miller who added 10 points to the tally. However, despite their persistent effort, SMU was narrowly edged out as they relinquished a holding lead late in the second half. A crucial turning point came with Viktor Lakhin’s successful lane jumper giving Clemson a 52-51 advantage with under five minutes remaining.
In the closing moments, SMU had an opportunity to build on or regain the lead after Hunter’s missed three-pointer with just 17 seconds left. With a timeout at 12.5 seconds, Chuck Harris attempted a crucial three-point corner shot, which went awry. A subsequent scramble for the rebound ended with the ball ruled as last touched by SMU, a decision finalized after an official review.
Hunter then drew a foul on the ensuing inbounds play, netting a vital free throw with just over two seconds left, sealing Clemson’s narrow win as Cross’s desperate full-court shot fell short at the buzzer.
Significant moments included Hunter’s decisive turnaround jumper that increased Clemson’s lead to four points with less than two minutes on the clock. Shooter troubles riddled SMU, concluding the game with a disappointing 1 of 14 from beyond the arc.
As the tournament progresses, Clemson is slated to face No. 13 Louisville, who recently emerged victorious against Stanford with a 75-73 win. Meanwhile, SMU is likely to set sights on participation in the NIT. Post-game assessments revealed an injury concern for Clemson’s key player, Dillon Hunter, who may have sustained a hand fracture in the first half, as suggested by Coach Brad Brownell. Follow-up X-rays are scheduled to confirm the extent of the injury.
