The Clemson basketball team began its 2024-2025 season with a win on Monday night, defeating the Charleston Southern Buccaneers by a score of 91-64 at Littlejohn Coliseum.
After losing key pieces that helped fire the Tigers into the Elite Eight, which was only the second time in school history the team did so, the returners and offseason acquisitions came out firing. The team finished out the first half on a 15-2 run to put the game out of hand early.
The catalyst? Chase Hunter, picking up right where he left off from his performances last season for 17 points, 15 of those in the first half. To cap off the opening frame, the graduate called his own number, creating space on a step-back 3-pointer and walked off the court with everybody on their feet.
Defensively, Clemson looked dominant. With a frisky, stifling backcourt of Dillon Hunter, freshman Del Jones and transfer Jaeden Zackery, the Tigers recorded eight steals on the night on Monday. Overall, Brad Brownell’s side forced 18 turnovers.
The new faces showed out too. Enter Myles Foster, an Illinois State transfer, who poured in 17 of his own while adding four rebounds as the Tigers’ energy player on Monday night. The Brooklyn native also recorded two blocks and two threes in the win.
“He’s done a nice job for us,” head coach Brad Brownell said. “He’s got a knack for scoring for us around the basket.”
“He’s been working really hard for us to make threes,” Brownell added.
The team added 40 points coming to the bench, a point of emphasis for Brownell throughout this past offseason.
“A lot of guys contributed today,” Chase Hunter said. “You got to see our depth and see how good this team is.”
In place of long-time center PJ Hall, Cincinnati transfer Viktor Lakhin added 12 points and four rebounds with the big man hitting a 3-pointer that sent the venue into a frenzy in the second half.
“It was good to see 24 out there,” Hunter said.
Ian Schieffelin had eight points and nine rebounds, half of those statistics while wearing a No. 24 jersey. The senior’s jersey ripped at the beginning of the second half, putting on an unnamed No. 24 jersey, some may say in honor of Hall.
Bringing in a plethora of transfers and adding a freshman class, the team is slowly gaining chemistry, which was an important factor entering the season. Despite all of this, Hunter believes that the team is in “a good spot”.
“We showed that again tonight,” Chase Hunter said. “I think we are gelling well. A lot of guys that are unselfish.”
The Tigers will be back in action on Friday night at home, facing Saint Francis in another non-conference matchup.
