Clemson 64, South Carolina 55: K.J. McDaniels collected 16 points, seven rebounds and five blocks and Devin Booker added 13 points, eight rebounds and three steals as the visiting Tigers snapped a two-game losing streak against their bitter in-state rivals.
Rod Hall chipped in 15 points and four assists for the Tigers (5-2), who were without senior forward Milton Jennings (suspension) for the second consecutive game.
Brenton Williams, who left Thursday's loss at St. John's on a stretcher after suffering a neck injury, led South Carolina (5-3) with 16 points. Bruce Ellington added 12 points in his second game since rejoining the team following the football team's regular season, but also committed five of the Gamecocks' 19 turnovers.
The Tigers took control with a 13-2 run early in the second half and didn't let the Gamecocks catch them. South Carolina got within 51-47 on Ellington's jumper with 4:15 left, but Damarcus Harrison answered with a 3-pointer at the other end and the Gamecocks never got closer than six again.
Hall made six of eight free throws in the final 1:18 to help seal it. He finished 9-of-12 at the line, and the Tigers were 27-of-37.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Clemson coach Brad Brownell beat South Carolina for the first time in three tries. … The Tigers have allowed 57 points or fewer in six of their seven games. … South Carolina's bench scored 41 points.
Clemson | South Carolina | |
K.J. McDaniels 16 | Scoring | Brenton Williams 16 |
Rod Hall 4 | Assists | Eric Smith 3 |
Devin Booker 8 | Rebounds | Michael Carrera 6 |
Rod Hall 9 | Free Throws Made | Bruce Ellington 4 |
Devin Booker 3 | Steals | Bruce Ellington 1 |
K.J. McDaniels 5 | Blocks | Michael Carrera 1 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Clemson | 64 | 43.6 | 3-11 | 27-37 | 8 | 28 | 8 | 10 | 13 |
South Carolina | 55 | 34.6 | 4-15 | 15-22 | 10 | 31 | 4 | 3 | 19 |