Clemson's Carter Welling stole the show at Littlejohn Coliseum, leading the Tigers to a 69-59 win over Miami. Welling's impressive 18-point, 9-rebound outing set the tone for Clemson, which never trailed in the second half. The Tigers' strong performance was fueled by Welling's dominance in the paint, as he consistently found ways to score and rebound against a tough Miami defense.
Miami's Shelton Henderson did his best to keep the Hurricanes in the game, scoring a team-high 22 points and grabbing 5 rebounds. However, it wasn't enough to overcome Clemson's balanced attack, which saw three players score in double figures. Jestin Porter added 11 points for the Tigers, while RJ Godfrey chipped in with 10. The Hurricanes' Malik Reneau and Dante Allen also reached double digits, scoring 11 and 10 points, respectively, but their efforts were ultimately overshadowed by Clemson's strong team performance.
The game got off to a slow start for Miami, which trailed 35-26 at halftime. The Hurricanes struggled to find their rhythm on offense, shooting just 36% from the field in the first half. Clemson, on the other hand, came out hot, shooting 48% from the field and building a lead that would prove insurmountable. In the second half, Miami made a push, outscoring Clemson 33-34, but the Tigers' lead was too great to overcome.
The win is a significant one for Clemson, which improves to 17-4 on the season. As a Quadrant 2 victory, it will undoubtedly boost the Tigers' resume as they push for a spot in the NCAA Tournament. For Miami, the loss drops the Hurricanes to 16-4, but as a Quadrant 1 loss, it won't hurt their tournament chances too severely. The Hurricanes want to bounce back from this setback and continue to build their case for a tournament bid.
Clemson's victory is a reflection of the team's strength and depth, as they were able to overcome a strong performance from Miami's Shelton Henderson. The Tigers' ability to adapt and respond to adversity will serve them well as they navigate the remainder of their schedule. With this win, Clemson solidifies its position as a tournament contender, and the team want to continue its momentum in the coming weeks.
The implications of this result are clear: Clemson has taken a significant step forward in its pursuit of a tournament bid, while Miami has suffered a minor setback. As the season wears on, both teams want to build on this performance and make a push for the postseason. For now, Clemson can celebrate a hard-fought victory, one that will undoubtedly look good on their resume come tournament time.