Clemson basketball was teetering on the sting of a late-game collapse Sunday in its 72-64 victory in opposition to Baylor within the NCAA Event second spherical.
The sixth-seeded Tigers (23-11) carried over their momentum from their first-round win in opposition to No. 11 seed New Mexico to construct a 10-point lead at halftime over the Bears (24-11) then a 15-point lead with 6:41 remaining within the sport at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee.
But, Baylor almost induced the trademarked March Insanity, happening a 20-5 run to chop the result in two with 1:02 left within the sport. It almost tied the sport with 36 seconds remaining, however freshman Ja’Kobe Walter, who was an 81% shooter from the free-throw line, missed two. Clemson proceeded to ice the sport on the free-throw line.
“We have had our share go the opposite approach,” Clemson coach Brad Brownell mentioned. “Right now issues labored for us, and typically that is why basketball generally is a merciless sport.”
Luck is required to win, however it turns into particularly vital within the NCAA Event.
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It was current for Clemson when Chase Hunter made a working double-clutch buzzer-beater 3-pointer to finish the primary half to offer the Tigers a 35-25 lead.
“I’d say it was undoubtedly a fortunate shot. Undoubtedly fortunate,” mentioned Hunter, who led Clemson with 20 factors.
4 gamers — Hunter, Joseph Girard III, PJ Corridor and Ian Schieffelin — scored in double figures. Clemson assisted on 16 of its 23 made area targets and made 20 free throws, which is its most since Feb. 24 in opposition to Florida State.
The Tigers obtained one other set of high quality minutes from RJ Godfrey, who went 4-for-4 on the free-throw line as a 55% shooter within the ultimate seconds to extend the lead. Chauncey Wiggins tied essentially the most minutes he has performed off the bench this season (19) as Corridor battled foul hassle. Each member from the bench unit had a optimistic plus-minus.
“One of many strengths is the depth of our group, and we have guys off the bench that may fill anybody’s position,” Schieffelin mentioned.
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The Tigers ran chilly throughout Baylor’s game-changing run, committing 4 turnovers and making zero area targets within the ultimate 6:41.
Corridor fouled out with 36 seconds left, however like a coin, the Tigers’ fortunes modified with Walter’s missed free throws that led to 6 essential ones made by Clemson.
“They had been going to go on runs. They’ve nice gamers like we do,” Hunter mentioned. “However, as leaders on the group, we made positive we received within the huddles, made positive we received stops and made massive baskets once we wanted them.”
The slender victory has Clemson dancing for an additional week, advancing to the Candy 16 for the fifth time in program historical past and the primary time since 2018. It has been doubted within the first two rounds and shall be an underdog in opposition to No. 2 seed Arizona (27-8) in Los Angeles on Thursday (7:09 p.m., CBS).
Nonetheless, the Tigers are as harmful and succesful as ever once they play their greatest ball. Add in an opportunity to go to the Elite 8 for the primary time since 1980 and a bit luck, they will proceed to show the critics flawed.
“Typically the basketball gods smile at you, and at present was a kind of days for us,” Brownell mentioned.
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville Information and the USA TODAY Community. E mail him at dcarter@gannett.com and observe him on X, previously often known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00