Clemson’s record breaking regular season comes to a heartbreaking end with a 69-67 loss to the McNeese State Cowboys. A late rally from the Tigers produced a score much more generous than what was seen on the court, as Clemson was outmatched in nearly every aspect throughout the match.
The Cowboys created more turnovers, and saw more points off turnovers. They were more efficient from the field, and saw more offensive and defensive rebounds. With 9:47 remaining in the half, McNeese took their first double digit lead of the game. They held the Tigers to more than 10 points behind until the final 2 minutes of the game, where a “too little, too late” rally from Clemson produced a final score laughably different from the play seen on the court.
The first 20 minutes of this game was not only the worst half of the season for Clemson, it was the worst half for any school in the 86 year history of the tournament. Of all the small schools dwarfed by NBA caliber talent, the injured rosters limping into the postseason, and programs simply terrified of the moment, no school has ever been less prepared and less efficient than the Clemson Tigers through the first half. The Tigers scored HALF the number of field goals as they had turnovers. (5/24 FG with 10 turnovers). If you put a glass case over the basket before every three pointer from Clemson, we would have exactly three less points in the period (1 for 15 from beyond the arc). Ian Schieffelin and Chase Hunter closed out the final first half of their esteemed collegiate careers with 0 points. The 31-13 first half score was more akin to what we see on the football field than the hardwood.
The Tigers showed some semblance of life in the second half, and truly shined late in the period. Chase Hunter wrapped up his historic Clemson career with an impressive 21 points on 5/7 shooting. Jaeden Zackary had an incredible performance as well, with 20 points, going 7/12 from the field and 4/5 from beyond the arc. As a team, Clemson shot 8/15 from three and 14/17 from the line, totals astronomically improved from the first period. Even with the massive change in performance, the Tigers still trailed by 22 with seven minutes remaining in the game, a total that proved to be too much to overcome.
While Zackary and Hunter were impressive for the final minutes, few Tigers stood out in this game. Ian Schieffelin wrapped up his career with a single point. Chauncey Wiggins was the teams’ third leading scorer, with 10 points going 3/12 from the field. Viktor Lahkin, Del Jones, and Jake Heidbreder combined for 11 points to essentially round out Clemson’s rotation. An 11-0 run with 5:49 remaining and a 12-3 run in the final moments brought the Tigers tantalizingly close to one of the greatest comebacks the tournament has seen, but overall the game was not anywhere near what you’d expect out of this Clemson roster.
For McNeese State, one could not ask for a more thrilling upset. Head Coach Will Wade graduated from Clemson, and began his coaching career with the Tigers. He was able to bring McNeese State their first ever tournament victory against his alma mater, and will face off against the Purdue Boilermakers with his mind set on a Sweet 16 berth. McNeese State’s Brandon Murray dominated the game, with 21 points and 3 steals on 10/18 shooting. McNeese State’s Quadi Copeland shined as well, with 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists shooting 5/8 from the field.
While the loss is heartbreaking, Clemson basketball has a lot to be excited about moving forward. The Tigers still had one of the most successful regular seasons in their program’s history, and showed throughout the season their ability to upset some of the best teams in the country. While Clemson will be losing some incredibly impactful players heading into next season, Brad Brownell has consistently shown his ability to reload talent year in and year out. With his new six year extension being finalized, it’ll be exciting to see what Clemson basketball can accomplish in the future.
