Late Surge Leads to Dominating Revenge Game for Clemson over Miami
On the evening of February 14, 2024, a thrilling basketball game unfolded as Clemson squared off against Miami at LJC. Despite the lower crowd turnout at the beginning, the energy in the stadium amplified as the game progressed, particularly among the students in the student section.
The game kicked off with a dynamic starting lineup featuring Chase Hunter, Ian Schieffelin, Jack Clark, Joe Girard, and PJ Hall. The first half was a series of runs, with Clemson scoring first, followed by an 8-0 run by Miami, and then a 9-0 run by Clemson. The thrilling back-and-forth had fans on the edge of their seats as both teams demonstrated their prowess on the court.
However, the game's pace slowed down in the middle of the first half, with a lot of turnovers and Joe Girard taking the bulk of the shots. The lack of excitement and energy seemed to affect the crowd as well. Despite this, Clemson managed to pull ahead with a score of 31-24 with 4 minutes left in the first half. Unfortunately, Clemson didn't score in the final 4 minutes, ending the first half with a slim lead of 31-30.
As the teams headed into halftime, it was clear that Clemson needed to build some energy to maintain its lead.
As the second half of the game began, Clemson started slow, not scoring until 17:30 left. However, big plays by PJ Hall and Beadle helped to reinvigorate the crowd, and even Coach Brad joined in to pump up the crowd. Despite a shooting slump and a run by Miami, who took a 6 point lead. Clemson managed to pull ahead again, with a score of 65-59 with 4 minutes left in the game.
In the final 4 minutes, Clemson seized control of the game, building a huge run and scoring advantage that led to a Miami timeout with 2 minutes to go and Clemson leading by 11. The Tigers ended on a 24-3 run in the final 7 minutes, wrapping up the game with a decisive 77-60 victory over Miami.
Reflecting on the game, it was fantastic to see Clemson pull off such a win, especially when neither PJ Hall nor Ian Schieffelin were scoring a lot. Chase Hunter led the team with 20 points, closely followed by Joe Girard with 18. Ian led in rebounds, while Jack Clark demonstrated impressive defense throughout the game.
In conclusion, this was a game that will be remembered by Clemson fans for its thrilling runs, dynamic plays, and a spectacular win in the end. This game is a great way to come home after 2 tough road victories and begin our final stretch of the regular season.
The Tigers will return home on Saturday at 7:45 to host the Wolfpack from NC State. It will be a nice reunion between some players as Jack Clark faces his former team and Ben Middlebrooks, the back up center for the Wolfpack, will return to Clemson for the first time.