The No. 21 Clemson Basketball team saw their six-game winning streak come to a heartbreaking end Tuesday night in a triple-overtime thriller against Georgia Tech, falling 89-86 at Littlejohn Coliseum.
Despite a valiant effort, Clemson (18-5, 10-2 ACC) couldn’t overcome the relentless Yellow Jackets (11-12, 5-7 ACC), who secured their second win over a ranked opponent this season. With the Tigers trailing 87-86 in the final seconds, Chase Hunter lost possession on a crucial play, allowing Georgia Tech to sink two free throws. With one last chance to force another overtime, Hunter’s game-tying attempt missed the mark.
Clemson head coach Brad Brownell acknowledged the effort of Georgia Tech’s Naithan George, who scored a game-high 28 points.
“Naithan George was terrific in the game,” Brownell said. “We had plays that didn’t go our way and we couldn’t rebound.”
Brad Brownell
Rebounding proved to be one of Clemson’s biggest struggles, as Georgia Tech dominated the offensive glass with 24 offensive rebounds. “That’s a problem and probably cost us the game,” Brownell admitted. The Tigers also missed key opportunities, failing to capitalize on a five-point comeback in the second half that forced overtime.
Senior Ian Schieffelin, who finished with 23 points, fought through adversity on the court. “He’s a wounded soldier, playing through a back injury and in this game a cramp,” Brownell said of his forward’s perseverance.
Hunter, who matched George with 28 points, reflected on the loss with a level-headed approach.
“We have to move on, learn from this loss, flush it,” he said. When asked about fatigue after a grueling three-overtime battle, he acknowledged, “Maybe we were, maybe so. We wanted to win, and I wanted to stay out there as long as possible.”
Chase Hunter
The Tigers will now shift their focus to a major challenge ahead: a showdown with No. 2 Duke (19-2, 11-0 ACC) on Saturday. Hunter emphasized the team’s mindset moving forward. “Just be ourselves, be the team we’ve been all year, have the same mindset.”
Clemson will look to regroup and defend their home court as they attempt to bounce back from this tough loss against one of the ACC’s elite teams.
