The Tigers came from 10 down Sunday afternoon and beat Georgia 97-94 in overtime at the Shriners Children’s Charleston Classic. This wasn’t some lucky bounce or a bail-out call. This was a team that had multiple answers when one guy got stopped.
“At the end of the day, sometimes as a coach you’re just relying upon your players to finish games. Thankfully, today our guys were good enough to do that.”
Brad Brownell, Head Coach
Clemson shot 66.7% in overtime. The bench scored 34 points. Five guys put up double digits. That’s not luck. That’s a team with championship juice figuring out how to win a game they had no business winning.
Porter Takes Control When It Matters Most
Jestin Porter was simply brilliant. The senior guard finished with a game-high 18 points on 7-of-14 shooting, including four crucial three-pointers that kept Georgia’s defense honest all night. But the numbers don’t tell the full story.
“Just trying to build off those two wins, how we came together as a team. I’m glad we figured it out at the right time, man. I feel like we’re coming along, every game we’re coming along.”
Jestin Porter, Guard
Porter was on the floor for 39 minutes. That’s basically the whole game. He finished with a +11 rating because Clemson was just better when he was out there. Two assists might not sound like much, but they were the kind that mattered. The ones that came when Georgia was riding high and Clemson needed to remind everyone they could still play.
When Georgia went up 10 early, Porter just went to work. Didn’t get frustrated. Didn’t force anything. Just kept hunting his spots and dragging Clemson back into the game. That’s the kind of composure you either have or you don’t.
The Bench Mob Shows Up
Here’s where this game turned from potential disappointment into defining victory: Clemson’s reserves absolutely demolished Georgia’s second unit, 34-25. That nine-point advantage proved decisive in a three-point game.
Butta Johnson came off the bench and was money. Didn’t miss a free throw. 13 points on 4-for-8 from the field. When Johnson checked in, Clemson got better. It’s that simple.
Zac Foster got hot from three. Drilled three of four from deep. 11 points in 17 minutes off the bench. Foster was the kind of spark plug who changed the feel of possessions just by being out there.
Then there’s Nick Davidson. Guy went 1-for-8 shooting. Looked terrible on the stat sheet. But he pulled down nine rebounds. Led the whole team. Fought for position. Played his tail off on defense. Finished with a plus-4 rating despite being ice cold. That’s the dude who understands what wins basketball games.
Defense Delivers When Pressured
Clemson’s defensive performance in overtime was suffocating. After both teams traded blows through two grueling halves, the Tigers clamped down when it mattered, holding Georgia to just 40% shooting in the extra period compared to their own scorching 66.7%.
Clemson just wouldn’t let Georgia shoot. Georgia came in shooting decent from three, and Clemson held them to 30%. Even worse, Georgia hit just 23.1% in the second half. The perimeter defense got tighter and tighter as the game wore on.
Dillon Hunter was everywhere. 16 points on lights-out shooting. 4-for-6 from the field. 2-for-2 from three. Then he grabbed seven boards and blocked two shots. Wilkinson was going crazy for Georgia with 26, but Hunter made sure Clemson had an answer on the other end.
Rebounding Battle Told the Story
The final rebounding margin 45 to 35 in Clemson’s favor doesn’t fully capture the dominance on the glass. The Tigers grabbed 15 offensive rebounds compared to Georgia’s eight, converting that aggression into 18 second-chance points against just 10 for the Bulldogs.
That eight-point difference in second-chance points? That was the game right there. In overtime, those possessions matter.
RJ Godfrey was hunting offensive rebounds like his life depended on it. Only played 24 minutes but grabbed four offensive boards. Finished with seven total. And he wasn’t just rebounding into space either. 4-for-6 shooting. 12 points. He was actually making plays when Clemson got him the ball.
Carter Welling grabbed five boards, dished out three assists, and scored 11. That’s the kind of versatility you need when a game comes down to the final possession.
The Turning Point
The game was tied 80-80 at the end of regulation after 12 lead changes and 12 ties – the definition of a heavyweight fight. Both teams had thrown their best punches, and neither was willing to go down.
Then came overtime. And Clemson played like they’d been here before.
Shot 4-of-6. Hit their free throws when it mattered. 8-of-10 from the line. Georgia couldn’t keep up. Shot 4-of-10 in OT and looked rattled doing it. The whole vibe changed. Clemson was calm. Georgia was pressing.
That’s what separates teams in November. One team panics. One team just gets to work.
What This Means for the Tigers
This wasn’t just a tournament win over an SEC opponent. This was a validation of everything Brad Brownell has been building with this roster.
Five guys in double figures. Bench outscored Georgia by nine. Those are wins that stick around.
Clemson can beat you with the three ball. Shot 44% from deep. Georgia shot 30%. That’s a 14-point swing just in efficiency. And the glass. Clemson dominated the offensive boards. Fifteen to Georgia’s eight. That’s not a coincidence. That’s a team that knows where the ball’s going after the shot.
Georgia shot 48.5% overall. Got decent looks. Didn’t matter. Clemson’s three-point game and rebounding ability created a different kind of math. Georgia just couldn’t keep up with that pace.
Looking Ahead
Championship teams discover themselves in November. They learn what they’re made of when adversity hits, when legs get tired, when the margin for error disappears completely.
Clemson showed they’ve got something. Porter’s got ice in his veins. Hunter can do it all. The bench guys are ready to play. Defense got better as the game went on, especially when it mattered most in OT.
(Note: This refers to Jestin Porter, Clemson’s senior guard)
The transition game needs work. Only 5 fast-break points while Georgia got 14. That’s something to fix. And shooting 41.9% in the second half when they opened at 46.9% shows they got stagnant for stretches.
But here’s the thing. None of that matters when you’ve got the grit to come back from down 10 and win in overtime. That’s not something you teach. That’s something you have.
