This was one the Tigers should have won. After controlling much of the game and leading by as many as ten at one point in the second half, Clemson dropped one in heartbreaking fashion, losing to Miami 73-68 in overtime. The Tigers are now just 6-7 on the season and 0-3 in ACC play. Miami improves to 9-3 and 1-1 in the ACC.
With about five minutes to play, the Hurricanes switched to a zone defense, which sparked a 12-2 run that wiped out the ten point deficit. The late scoring drought was the Tigers second of the game, as they went over 5 minutes in the first half without scoring a point, while Miami went on a 9-0 run that helped them go into the locker room at halftime tied at 26.
For most of the game, this team showed it can be competitive when it’s hitting shots. However, it’s going to be hard enough for this team to overcome one extended period of time in which it has trouble scoring. When it has more than one, winning will be next to impossible.
Aamir Simms played well, leading the team with 21 points, going 8-14 from the floor and grabbing 8 boards. Clyde Trapp added 13 points, going 3-5 from three, and Curran Scott pitched in with 10 points.
Miami’s Chris Lykes was just to much though, as he torched the Tigers for 27 points, with 16 coming in the second half. He was 10-16 shooting and was 3-6 from beyond the arc.
Next up for the Tigers is NC State. The Wolfpack visit Littlejohn on Saturday with tipoff scheduled for noon.
