Clemson outplayed and outmatched Baylor for the majority of Sunday’s second-round NCAA event sport.
It then fended off a livid Bears rally from a 15-point second-half deficit to safe a 72-64 win within the second spherical of the NCAA event.
Baylor reduce a 61-46 deficit to 66-64 within the sport’s last minute. However it by no means by no means took the lead as Clemson held on to safe a visit to the Candy 16 and a matchup with No. 2 seed Arizona.
The Bears had an opportunity to tie the sport with 36.2 seconds remaining whereas trailing by two. However Ja’Kobe Walter missed two free throws, and the Bears did not rating once more.
Clemson dominates early
Clemson led the sport wire to wire. It attacked and flustered Baylor’s zone protection early en path to a 22-14 lead halfway by the primary half. It then withstood foul hassle that threatened its early lead.
All-ACC heart PJ Corridor went to the bench with 6:19 remaining within the first half after choosing up his second foul. Clemson led, 25-20. Beginning ahead Ian Schieffelin joined him on the bench together with his second foul two minutes later. However Clemson did not wilt.
The Tigers prolonged their result in 35-25 at halftime with each frontcourt starters on the bench. Chase Hunter capped the robust half with a transition 3-pointer that beat the first-half buzzer.
Clemson assured after robust first half
On Friday, Baylor scored 54 first-half factors in a 92-67 win over Colgate. An offense that ranks fifth in KenPom’s adjusted offensive effectivity was restricted to much less that half that whole within the first half towards Clemson. It produced eight made subject targets and 7 turnovers.
CBS requested Clemson head coach Brad Browning if Clemson might have performed a greater first half.
“No most likely not,” Browning mentioned. “Particularly with PJ and Ian being in foul hassle the final couple of minutes there.
It was extra of the identical early within the second half. Clemson continued to assault from in and out whereas hobbling Baylor’s offense. It did in order Corridor continued to search out foul hassle. He went to the bench together with his third foul on the 17:26 mark. When he returned with 10:06 remaining, Clemson maintained a 52-43 lead. And he made the Bears pay.
A Corridor dunk in a halfcourt set prolonged Clemson’s result in 59-46.
Bears mount rally
However Baylor wasn’t achieved. The Bears mounted a 9-0 run that reduce their 15-point deficit to 61-55. After struggling from the sector for many of the sport, Baylor hit 5 straight subject purpose makes an attempt to chip away on the Clemson lead.
On protection, Baylor leaned on stress down the stretch, forcing Clemson into 4 turnovers within the last 5:10, three of them within the last 1:23. However in the end, the 15-point gap proved too deep. Baylor ran out of time on its comeback and fell in need of the Candy 16 for a third-straight season since profitable the nationwide championship in 2021.
Hunter led the Clemson effort with 20 factors and 6 assists as one among 4 starters to attain in double figures. Corridor was restricted to 11 factors and three rebounds whereas taking part in simply 19 minutes. He was in foul hassle all through and fouled out with 36.2 seconds left within the sport.
Senior guard RayJ Dennis led Baylor with 27 factors, six rebounds and three steals. Walter, a freshman, added 20 factors and 6 rebounds. However a 5-of-11 day on the free-throw line together with the 2 misses within the final minute looms giant. As a crew, Baylor shot 16 of 26 (61.5%) on the stripe, exacerbating its struggles from the sector (38.9%).
Clemson, in the meantime, shot 48.9% from the sector and hit 20 of 24 (83.3%) free throws. It joins North Carolina, Duke and NC State because the fourth ACC crew within the Candy 16.
The Tigers advance to a troublesome matchup towards Arizona. However as they proved on Sunday, they’re able to competing with the nation’s greatest groups. Clemson beat No. 4 seed Alabama and No. 1 seed North Carolina on the street through the common season.