Clemson-Florida State Basketball: Injury Plagued Teams Battle
The Seminoles list of injuries this year takes up its own article. Clemson’s injury plagued backcourt received some good news with Chase Hunter’s return today. Alex Hemenway and Brevin Galloway both miss the Clemson-Florida State basketball game, and Brad Brownell inserts Dillon Hunter into the starting lineup alongside his brother Chase. The team who finds players to produce for their injured teammates gains the edge.
Tigers Tyson Comes Out Hot
Hunter Tyson outscores Florida State 9-0 at the first dead ball timeout. His three quick three pointers should open up the lane for PJ Hall and Hunter. Florida State’s Darin Green gets the Seminoles first points at the 15:28 mark. Tyson makes up for a turnover with a heat check three. Green and Caleb Mills hit back to back long range jumpers to cut the lead to 16-8 at the under 12 timeout.
Clemson must limit turnovers. Three out of their last five possessions ended with no shot, allowing the Seminoles to climb back into the game. Mills and Green’s shooting continues to fuel Florida State’s run. Chae Hunter’s fastbreak layup ends a 10-0 run. He hits a pullup triple to stretch the lead back to nine, 21-12. Clemson’s fortunate their defense remains strong, as the Tigers commit their sixth turnover midway through the first half. Mills and Green continue to fire away and make long jumpers, cutting the Tigers lead back down to three, 21-18.
Tigers Must Limit Turnovers, Three Pointers Against Seminoles
Out of a timeout by Brownell, Josh Beadle hits a big three. PJ Hall finally gets on the board, tipping in Tyson jumper. When Clemson limits turnovers they have the advantage over Florida State, because the Seminoles are shooting just 6-18 so far. The Seminoles stay within eight, 26-18 due to 5-11 from long range.
Hunter picks up his second foul on a Matthew Cleveland layup, a concern given Clemson’s lack of backcourt depth. Tyson now up to 16 of the Tigers 30 points, carrying the first half offensive load. Florida State misses its next four threes, and the Seminoles fail to cut into the lead due to eight turnovers of their own.
Both teams struggle offensively as the game stays stuck at 30-21 with 3:45 left in the first half. Clemson leads 14-12 on the boards, and allows just three offensive rebounds so far, something that is always a concern for them. 12 points off nine Clemson turnovers for the Seminoles. Hall continues to fire away from three, despite missing all three tries so far. Chandler Jackson’s two baskets cut the lead to two, 31-29. Mills three ties the game at 1:28. Baba Miller’s layup puts the Seminoles ahead with 58 seconds left in the first half, 34-33. Tigers 11 first half turnovers gave Florida State plenty of confidence and kept them in the game, despite shooting 12-32.
Hunter Must Stay Out of Foul Trouble
The Clemson-Florida State basketball game may come down to whether or not Hunter stays out of foul trouble. Hunter picked up his second foul at the 6:51 mark, and the Seminoles outscored the Tigers 14-5 the rest of the first half. Asking Tyson for a similar offensive game that he had against NC State may be too much. PJ Hall’s scoring in the lane, he shoots just 1-5 in the first half, is essential as well.
Florida State stretches the lead to six as Clemson continues to fire away and miss from beyond the arc. Hall finally makes a three, but Clemson gives up an easy dunk to Cam Corhen, to push the lead back to six. Hall’s reverse gives the Tigers the lead back at the 14:33 mark, 45-44. The game swings back and forth between, with Florida State back on top 50-49 on a Corhen layup.
Tyson adds to his game high 24 with a three and a offensive rebound and put back. RJ Godfrey’s layup forces Leonard Hamilton to call a timeout at 10:19, as the Tigers lead 56-50.
Can Tigers Close out a Win in Tallahassee?
The Tigers look for their win at Florida State since 2015. A 6-0 run by the Seminoles cuts the lead to one, 57-56. Clemson must find a way to shoot more inside the arc, as they are 10-15 from two point range. Matthew Cleveland’s three gives the Seminoles the lead back at 7:48.
Who can defend without fouling? Both teams find themselves shooting free throws on every common foul. Baba Miller steps up for the Seminoles with 11points, to keep Florida State in the lead. The teams continue to trade free throws, and then they trade threes between Cleveland and Tyson. Dillon Hunter misses a chance to tie the game at 71, and Florida State calls a timeout to preserve their possession with 3:48 left.
Mills gives Florida State its 13th shot from long range, and a three point lead. Hunter now is up to 22 points with two free throws. Corhen’s put back pushes the lead back to 78-75. Hunter and Hall only hit one of two at the line, allowing Mills to push the lead back to 80-77 with 10.5 seconds left. Hall makes two free throws, and Corhen splits a pair. Brownell calls the Tigers last timeout with 8.5 left. Cleveland then fouls out, as Hunter completes a three point play. It proves to be the difference as Florida State fails to get a final shot.
Clemson Grit Keeps Alone at the Top of the ACC
Clemson gave up 13-30 from long range, and committed 18 turnovers. The Tigers overcame thanks to the big three of Tyson, Hunter, and Hall. They scored 70 of Clemson’s 82 points. Hunter’s return proved the difference, as he scored a career high 26, including the game winning and one layup.
The Tigers now travel to Boston College Tuesday in the last of three games they cannot lose, against Boston College. Like the Seminoles the Eagles are under .500, 10-12 and just 4-7 in the ACC. Virginia continues to win as well so if Clemson wants to remain alone in first place they need to continue to win.
The other reason Clemson cannot drop one on the road is the second half ACC schedule. Of the four tough games remaining for the Tigers only one is at home, next Saturday against #20 Miami. The rest are on the road: at North Carolina, NC State, and Virginia. Finding a way to split those four and not dropping games to the Eagles, Seminoles, Syracuse, Louisville and Notre Dame could give Clemson a piece of the ACC regular season title for the first time since the 89-90 season.
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