Atlanta, GA—-Clemson demonstrated dominance in their matchup against Georgia Tech, securing a resounding 81-57 victory in Atlanta. Ian Schieffelin led the charge with 19 points, while Chase Hunter’s remarkable 18-point performance, with 11 crucial points coming in the final 11 minutes, solidified the Tigers’ win.
The game began with Clemson showcasing exceptional accuracy, hitting 9 of their first 10 field goal attempts, including 5 of 6 from beyond the arc, establishing a commanding 23-9 lead. Georgia Tech struggled to find their rhythm, enduring a four-minute scoring drought early in the game.
Despite Georgia Tech’s late surge in the first half, cutting Clemson’s lead to 12 points, the Tigers maintained control, entering halftime with a 43-31 advantage. Schieffelin contributed significantly in the opening half with 13 points, while PJ Hall added 11 points to Clemson’s tally.
“In every huddle tonight, we just said, ‘Spirit’ because we were just trying to get back to our team spirit,” Clemson coach Brad Brownell said.
In the second half, Clemson’s defensive pressure intensified, holding Georgia Tech to a mere 2 of 15 shooting from the field in the initial 10 minutes. This allowed Clemson to extend their lead to 56-41, effectively sealing the victory. The Tigers continued their sharpshooting from beyond the arc, sinking five 3-pointers in the second half, ultimately finishing the game with a season-high 14 triples on 48% shooting.
Joseph Girard III contributed 14 points, complementing Hall’s 11-point performance for Clemson. The win marked redemption for Clemson, avenging their previous double-overtime loss to Georgia Tech earlier in the season.
“We’ve had some that haven’t gone our way, and you can’t really harp on that,” Clemson guard Chase Hunter said. “Practice wise, we just been competing, trying to go at each other and make sure that we’re ready for the next game.”
For Georgia Tech, Kyle Sturdivant led with 14 points, supported by Tafara Gapare’s 10 points. Additionally, Miles Kelly achieved a milestone by surpassing 1,000 career points, contributing eight points in the contest.
UP NEXT:
Looking ahead, Clemson will return home to face Florida State.
Georgia Tech will travel to Miami for their next matchup on Saturday.
