Clemson blows out Alabama A&M 92-56, moves to 7-1
CLEMSON — The ESPN crew spent a timeout laughing about Clemson’s Thanksgiving walkthrough in Brad Brownell’s driveway, specifically the flat basketball the Tigers had to use.
The punchline didn’t last long.
Nothing about Clemson’s start was flat in a 92–56 win over Alabama A&M (3-2) Friday night in Littlejohn Coliseum.
BECOME A TIGERILLUSTRATED.com SUBSCRIBER!
Because this had all the makings of a sleepwalk. Sandwiched between the grind of the Charleston Classic and next week’s road gauntlet at No. 8 Alabama and No. 9 BYU, this was the exact kind of opponent a good team glances past the day after Thanksgiving in a half-full arena.
It could’ve been the definition of a trap.
But Clemson (7-1) handled it like a team that needs game reps to drift.
The Tigers emptied the suspense almost immediately, ripping off a 14–2 opening run and stacking a 7–0 burst in 53 seconds that ballooned the margin to 24–4 before the first media timeout.
Even up big, Brownell was laying into his group, especially freshman Zac Foster, after a blown switch.
Clemson spent last weekend in heavyweight fights; this one was about staying sharp, not just surviving.
By the under-8, it was 34–9.
Clemson’s length swallowed Alabama A&M’s actions, the offense snapped the ball side-to-side with purpose and the focus didn’t drop no matter who checked in.
The bench picked up the theme, pouring in a season-high 49 points, the kind of production Brownell has quietly been waiting to see.
Brownell’s message at halftime, even with a 52–22 lead, wasn’t about the score, it was about avoiding the bad habits these kinds of games can create, especially for the freshmen.
And the depth showed. All 12 Tigers who dressed scored; 11 logged double-digit minutes.
Jestin Porter led the backcourt with 14 points on 4-for-10 shooting.
RJ Godfrey turned in another strong night with 10 points on 4-for-7 shooting and eight rebounds in 20 minutes.
Carter Welling added 12, including a perfect 8-for-8 from the line.
Clemson finished 30-for-55 (54.5%) from the field, 8-of-23 (34.8%) from three and 24-for-32 (75%) at the stripe.
Alabama A&M shot 20-for-54 (37%) overall, 4-for-22 (18.2%) from deep and 12-for-17 (70.6%) at the line.
It wasn’t flawless.
It never is.
But it was exactly the kind of businesslike, low-drama performance Clemson needed with an unforgiving week ahead.
And that week comes fast.
DISCUSSION: Join Tigerillustrated.com subscribers on The West Zone Forum
Next up is the ACC/SEC Challenge at No. 8 Alabama on Wednesday at 7:15 p.m. on ESPNU, followed by a trip to Madison Square Garden to face No. 9 BYU six days later.
DISCUSSION: Join Tigerillustrated.com subscribers on our off-topics forum
Back-to-back top-10 tests that will say far more about where this group is headed than anything that could’ve happened Friday night.
Not a Tiger Illustrated member, Clemson fans? Join Today!
Tigerillustrated.com, established in 1999, is the No. 1 Authority On Clemson Football & Recruiting. A subscription, just $1 for our 7-day trial, is a must-have for hardcore Clemson Football fans. You won’t find more exclusive, detailed, info on Clemson football and recruiting anywhere else. We guarantee it! CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT OUR $1 SUBSCRIPTION PROMO!
