CLEMSON BASKETBALL

<span style=Dawson Powers / USATODAY">
Dawson Powers / USATODAY

Djitte's double-double leads Tigers over PC


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GREENVILLE, S.C. — Clemson rebounded from a difficult loss to Alabama less than 48 hours later with a 69-41 victory over Presbyterian College on Tuesday. The win improved Clemson to 7-3 on the season, while dropping the Blue Hose to 4-6 overall.

Sidy Djitte posted his second career double-double, producing 12 points and 13 rebounds. Three players reached double figures in all, including Avry Holmes (12) and Gabe DeVoe (11). Clemson shot just 5-23 from three, but converted 16-21 at the free throw line.

“Good bounce back by our guys. I thought Jordan Roper and Landry (Nnoko) especially were guys that have logged a lot of minutes lately, and still had live legs," Clemson head coach Brad Brownell. "I think a couple other guys looked a little tired, JB (Jaron Blossomgame) and Avry (Holmes), but that is to be expected because they have played a lot. We have played a lot of physical teams recently, especially Alabama. But I thought we did the things we needed to do to win."

Clemson’s offense struggled to find the basket early, making just four of its first 11 attempts from the field. With the Tigers up just 16-13, DeVoe connected on Clemson’s first four-point play of the season. Moments later, he picked up a steal and jammed in two more for his first dunk of the season. The flush gave the Tigers a 24-15 lead.

The Tigers pushed the advantage to 36-22 later in the period when Donte Grantham connected on his 18th three-pointer of the season. But PC scored the final four points of half, including two at the buzzer off a steal.

Clemson came out more purposeful in the second half, stretching the cushion to 54-32 after consecutive long balls from Holmes and Grantham. Djitte went on a second half scoring binge, converting three straight buckets to help push the Tiger lead to 62-34.

The Tiger defense held a third straight opponent to less than 30 percent from the floor. The Blue Hose shot just 27.6 percent, the Tigers’ best field goal percentage defense in 173 games under Brad Brownell. Clemson also held Blue Hose leading scorer DeSean Murray to 15 points, nearly seven below his average. Murray was scoreless after halftime.

The Tigers return to action Friday against the 25th-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks, who are 9-0 on the season. The two rivals will meet at 7 p.m. in a game that will be live streamed on ESPN3.

Notes

* Clemson held Presbyterian to 41 points Tuesday, the third opponent with less than 50 this season. The Tigers are 34-2 all-time under head coach Brad Brownell when holding opponents to 50 or less.

* Presbyterian shot just 27.6 percent, the lowest figure allowed by Clemson’s program in 173 games under Brownell.

Sidy Djitte posted his second double-figure scoring effort of the season with 12 points. The junior was 6-8 from the floor.

* Djitte had his second career double-double Tuesday, contributing a career-best 13 rebounds against the Blue Hose.

* Gabe DeVoe notched double figures for the third time, and first time since Nov. 23 against UMass. He finished with 11 points, all in the opening half of play.

* DeVoe made Clemson’s first four-point play of the season. It was the first by a Tiger since Ibrahim Djambo did it against Belmont in the 2014 NIT quarterfinals.

* Jaron Blossomgame had one blocked shot, pushing his season total to 17. He already has his single-season high in three years as a Tiger.

* Landry Nnoko matched a season-high with nine rebounds.

* Ty Hudson took a charge in his second straight game.


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