Clemson advances to Sweet 16, beats Baylor 72-64
MEMPHIS, T.N. (FOX Carolina) - No. 6 seed Clemson took down No. 3 seed Baylor 72-64 in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament Sunday. The Tigers advance to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the first time since 2018 and for the fifth time in program history.
Clemson men’s basketball took the lead on Baylor right out of the gate and despite being tied twice the Tigers never trailed in the first half. They had that lead up to as many as ten twice in the half while shooting 52 percent.
Chase Hunter led the field with 11 points highlighted by a three-point buzzer-beater to end the first half. He was 3-for-4 from three in the period having hit half of Clemson’s six threes as a team.
PJ Hall played just over ten minutes in the half after picking up a first foul early and adding a second just after halfway through the first half on a charge.
Baylor struggled to hit their shots making eight of their 24 attempts.
The second half was a much tighter game as Baylor started to hit its shots, led by RayJ Dennis. The Bears cut the Clemson lead down to two as the Tigers went on a more than six-minute drought without a field goal.
Hunter led the Tigers with 20 points in 39 minutes on the floor. Joe Girard added 13 including clutch free throws down the stretch.
Clemson clinched the win with free throws to advance to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the first time since 2018.
The Tigers will play No. 2 seed Arizona in Los Angeles, California on Thursday at 7:09 a.m.
Copyright 2024 WHNS. All rights reserved.
