The Tigers are playing the kind of basketball that makes opposing coaches squirm in the timeout huddle. Efficient, suffocating, relentless.
Clemson came out of the locker room with something to prove, and North Alabama didn’t stand a chance. The Tigers built a commanding 23-point lead by the 42-second mark and essentially played the rest of the first half with their foot on the gas, leading 45-22 at halftime in Littlejohn Coliseum.
This isn’t the kind of win you overlook in early season games. This is the kind of performance that gets attention.
The Shooting Gallery
What you need to understand about this game is that it wasn’t even close. Clemson’s shooting was vintage. 50% from the field, 38.9% from three, 80% from the free throw line. When your offense is clicking like that, there’s nothing much the other team can do. North Alabama shot 32.3% from the field. That 17-point gap in field goal percentage is the story right there.
The Tigers weren’t getting lucky either. They were getting open looks and knocking them down. Seven three-pointers on 18 attempts showed range and spacing. The ball was moving. The offense had rhythm. For a team that’s going to compete the way Clemson needs to compete, that’s exactly what you want to see in November.
North Alabama shot 14.3% from three. Two makes on 14 attempts. When you look at those numbers, you understand why it’s 45-22.
The Bench Made the Difference
Here’s where this gets interesting for Clemson’s program moving forward. The bench scored 29 points. That’s not a role player contribution. That’s a statement about depth. Zac Foster came off the bench perfect. Three for three from the field, three for three from three. Nine points in nine minutes. That’s the kind of spark plug energy that can carry a team through November and into March.
Dallas Thomas added six points on efficient shooting. Justin Porter got to four points on the strength of going 2-for-3 from the free throw line. It’s not just one guy stepping up. It’s multiple players contributing in meaningful ways.
North Alabama’s bench? Ten points. That disparity tells you everything about where these two teams are right now.
Godfrey’s Perfect Game
R.J. Godfrey didn’t take many shots. Five attempts. Five makes. Ten points. That’s the kind of efficiency that makes coaches smile. He was disciplined with the basketball. Didn’t force anything. Didn’t complicate the offense. Just made the right plays and made his shots when he got them.
Carter Welling contributed six points on 3-for-4 shooting and grabbed six rebounds. Jake Wahlin added three points and was a presence on the boards with four defensive rebounds. This wasn’t one star carrying the load. It was balanced scoring, which is exactly what you want going into the second half.
Defense Did Its Job
North Alabama scored 22 points in a half. Against a team with tournament aspirations, that’s going to get your attention in a good way. The Lions shot poorly because Clemson’s defense made it difficult for them to find rhythm. Five turnovers forced. Limited second chances. Kevin De Kovachich led North Alabama with seven points, and nobody else really stepped up.
The rebounding battle wasn’t even close. 24 to 15 in Clemson’s favor. When you control the glass like that, you control the game. You get second chances. You limit their opportunities.
What’s Next
Here’s the thing about a 23-point halftime lead. You can’t take your foot off the gas in the second half. Clemson’s going to need to come out and maintain that defensive intensity. The bench is going to need to keep producing. The starters probably won’t see extended minutes, which is fine. Use this game to get everyone quality reps and build confidence heading into tougher competition.
North Alabama doesn’t have the tools to make this interesting. They need to find better shooting from outside and establish some kind of offensive rhythm. Right now, they’re just trying to survive.
For Clemson, this is the kind of halftime score that tells you your team is ready to play basketball this season. Balanced scoring, elite defense, and a bench that’s actually contributing. If this carries into the second half, you’re looking at a solid nonconference win to build on moving forward.
The Tigers came to Littlejohn to work, and that’s exactly what they’ve done.
The second half is on its way!
