On Wednesday night, the Clemson basketball team defeated the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets by a score of 81-57 at the McCamish Pavilion in Atlanta, Georgia.
After the double-overtime heartbreaker a month ago, the Tigers (18-7, 8-7 ACC) got revenge on their third team this season. The win not only marks Clemson’s largest win over an ACC opponent this season, but they also held the Yellow Jackets to the lowest amount of any ACC team this season.
Three-point successes and a first-half run were the two difference makers that allowed this game to get out of hand early. A 14-0 run at the beginning of the frame was the first factor, leading by 12 points at halftime. When shooting beyond the arc, the Tigers sank nine threes out of 18 attempts, an impressive 50% from downtown.
Overall, the team shot an impressive 48.3% from three while shooting over 50% from the field in the victory.
Ian Schieffelin led the scoring for the team, scoring 19 points and grabbing three rebounds. 13 of those points would come in the first half, sinking three three-pointers.
The second half was nothing different. Head coach Brad Brownell and his squad made defense their main priority in the final 20 minutes, holding Georgia Tech (11-16, 4-12 ACC) to just 26 points. Defending successfully from the field was vital for the Tigers, who held the home team to just 30.2% from the field.
In his return to his hometown, Chase Hunter followed behind with 18 points and six assists. He drilled four three-pointers of his own as well.
Joe Girard III and PJ Hall would score 14 and 11 points, respectively. Hall, who celebrated his 22nd birthday on Wednesday night, would score all of his 11 points in the first half en route to an important victory.
The Tigers would also only turn the ball over five times, which has been troublesome recently for the team. Georgia Tech would only score four points off of the five turnovers.
The win will only help Clemson in its search for a berth in the NCAA Tournament. Beating a squad that they previously lost to, the Tigers should expect boosts in their NET and KenPom rankings, which play an important role in determining which teams make the Big Dance.
The Tigers will be back in action on Saturday night when they will host the Florida State Seminoles at Littlejohn Coliseum.
