Clemson Tigers Extend Winning Streak Against Pittsburgh Panthers
In a Saturday matchup in Clemson, South Carolina, the No. 22 ranked Clemson Tigers managed to extend their impressive winning streak against their rivals, the Pittsburgh Panthers, securing a 63-52 victory. Both Carter Welling and Nick Davidson were key contributors for Clemson, finishing the game with 12 points each. Their efforts helped the Tigers maintain a commanding 17-point advantage by halftime, allowing them to celebrate their 15th consecutive win over Pittsburgh and marking head coach Brad Brownell’s milestone of 200 home victories during his 16-year tenure.
Game Highlights
The contest saw Clemson (18-4, 8-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference) start strong with a dominant run, outscoring the Panthers 26-9 during a pivotal 13-minute stretch in the first half. This surge was aided by Efrem “Butta” Johnson, who played a significant role by sinking two of Clemson’s five three-pointers during that timeframe. The Panthers struggled offensively, recording a mere 21% shooting percentage and landing only 2 of their 18 attempts from beyond the arc in the first half, which ended with them trailing 33-16.
Second Half Comeback Attempt
Pittsburgh (9-13, 2-7 in conference play) tried to claw their way back into the game with a 14-4 run at the start of the second half, cutting the deficit to single digits. However, the Tigers quickly countered this momentum shift when RJ Godfrey scored twice in the paint and Welling contributed six consecutive points, reestablishing Clemson’s comfortable lead. Roman Siulepa and Damarco Minor each scored 12 points for the Panthers. Notably, Pittsburgh’s top scorer, Brandin Cummings, was limited to just 2 points, well below his scoring average of 13 points.
Weather Conditions and Upcoming Matches
The game proceeded as planned despite a winter storm affecting South Carolina, which was expected to deposit as much as 8 inches of snow on the university’s campus. Looking ahead, Pittsburgh will face a challenge at No. 17 Virginia this Tuesday, while Clemson will head west to take on Stanford on Wednesday.
