Clemson, S.C. —Clemson University led by as many as 23 points against Boston College but couldn’t close the game out and lost 70-68 on Saturday night in Atlantic Coast Conference play.
Brevin Galloway hit a deep go-ahead 3-pointer with 26 seconds left for Boston College for the victory. BC fell behind 9-0 and didn’t take its first lead until Galloway’s game-winner.
The Tigers have put their NCAA Tournaments aspirations in jeopardy with the loss to the Eagles at Littlejohn Coliseum.
Clemson got it going early on offense. They raced out to a 34-11 lead, the defense was forcing turnovers, and Al-Amir Dawes was draining everything.
In the first half, the Tigers shot 39% from downtown and were 6-6 on free throw attempts. The Eagle offense was stagnant for majority of the first half until they found some life just before halftime.
Dawes had 17 points at the break, but did not score at all in the second half. Clemson took a seven point lead into the break (39-32).
In the second half, The Tigers hit one 3-pointer. BC clamped down on the perimeter and contested every shot Clemson put up.
Boston College guard, Brevin Galloway, the brother of Clemson Football tightend, Braden Galloway, hit the game winner from outside the Coliseum. Galloway finished the contest with 18 points.
The second half ended up being a game of runs with Clemson holding the lead throughout, but with the score tied at 60-60 and following a Collins made jumper, the Tigers lost Galloway in transition, and he hit his fifth 3-pointer of the game with 26 seconds left left in the game.
David Collins scored 15 points, but the permanent memory on his performance will be the five missed free throws. Collins, with two seconds left in the game, went to the free throw line. Missed the first free throw and committed a lane violation on the second to seal the game for the BC.
Clemson (10-7, 2-4 ACC) were led by Al-Amir Dawes (Newark, N.J./The Patrick School) who finished with 17 points. David Collins (Youngstown, Ohio/First Love Christian School) chipped in 15 and had seven boards, while PJ Hall (Spartanburg, S.C./Dorman) scored 12 points. Naz Bohannon (Lorain, Ohio/Lorain) was a major spark off the Tiger bench, pouring in nine points and a season-high 12 rebounds.
Makai Ashton-Langford scored 17 of his 19 points in the second half for Boston College. He made 1 of 2 free throws with 15 seconds left to end the scoring. James Karnik scored 17 on 8-of-11 shooting.
Next Up:
Clemson returns to the court on Tuesday, Jan. 18 when it travels to Syracuse for a 9 p.m. tip on ACCN.
Boston College will travel to Kentucky Wednesday, Jan. 19 to play Louisville for a 7 P.M. tip off.
